Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we are already at the gates of Christmas. This week prepares us for the imminent coming of the Child Jesus, who comes to live among us. Living Advent through the Sundays being characterized as “Vigilance”, “Conversion” and “Testimony”, we arrive today at this fourth Sunday, that of “the Announcement”. Mary receives the announcement from the Angel, who tells her that she will be the mother of the Saviour, but faced with this announcement, she does not stay at home waiting. She goes out to help and share the joy she carries in her womb, she goes out to be at the service of her neighbour, to her cousin Elizabeth. What she does first is not to think about herself, but to think of those in need, to think of her cousin Elizabeth, and she goes out generously, because the Spirit pushes her and leads her to go out and help. This is why, as the Gospel says, “Mary arose and left without delay”. We too are called to rise and leave without delay.
In the first reading, the words of the prophet Micah lead us to Bethlehem, the small town that witnessed the great event of humanity: ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah’s prophecy refers to a mysterious birth: “Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites”.
The last part of the prophecy emphasizes that Bethlehem (and the whole world) is also the symbol of messianic peace, a peace sought and awaited with difficulty, in the midst of fatigue and disagreements. And God never gives up… This is why today he also renews this hope and commits us all to being, with the sentiments of Jesus, instruments and messengers of peace everywhere, to bring love where there is hatred, forgiveness where there is offense, joy where there is sadness and truth where there is error.
So, let us return to the Gospel which recounts Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. It is not a superficial act, but a true encounter that takes place between these two great women, both pregnant, with great simplicity and humility. One is Elizabeth, the eldest, the symbol of Israel’s expectation, carrying John, and the other is Mary, the young girl who carries within her the one who is awaited, the “God with us”, Jesus. John’s joy in Elizabeth’s womb is the sign of the fulfillment of the expectation: God is about to visit his people.
Elizabeth welcomes Mary and cries out: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to visit me?” She recognizes that God’s promise to humanity is being fulfilled. It is the power of God that has transformed and continues to transform each day the unproductive into the fruitful. John, who is about to be born, leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when he sees Mary, who is carrying Jesus, the Son of God made man.
Thus we discover that the Visitation expresses the beauty and importance of welcome: where there is mutual welcome, listening and room for the other, there is God and the joy that comes from Him. In the time that is approaching, let us imitate Mary, by going to visit those who live in difficulty, especially the sick, prisoners, the elderly and children; let us also imitate Elizabeth, who welcomes the guest as God himself. We will know the Lord if we desire him, we will find him if we wait for him and seek for him.
With the same joy than Mary who leaves quickly, let us go to meet the Lord who comes. Mary trusts that God himself will make everything happen and does not despair, but she put her trust in God. She gets up and leaves because she lives in trust and joy, she does not think of asking for help, but of helping others. And we… Do we think of helping others? Do we get up to help others or do we remain paralyzed in the face of what happens? Do we trust that God is great and that he will lift us up when we fall, come to our aid when in difficulties, and mobilize us to help our neighbour?
Let us pray that all men may seek God, discovering that it is God himself who comes first to visit us. Because Christmas is not just another tale or story, but God’s answer to the drama of humanity that seeks true peace. “He himself will be our peace,” says the prophet, speaking of the Messiah. It is up to us to open the doors of our hearts wide to welcome him. Trusting in the Lord, let us welcome and proclaim hope, because “when God became a Child, Hope came to inhabit the world.”