The Blessing of Visitations

The Blessing of Visitations 

December 19, 2021    4th Sunday Advent - C 

by Dcn. Bob Bonomi

Twas the week before Christmas, and all over the earth,
People were preparing to celebrate Christ’s birth.

Joining again with family and friends
In celebration of the nearing of this year’s end.

Some would be traveling, the first time in two years
As last year they battled CoVid fears.

And most importantly, although some might not agree
Coming to Mass, once again from fear, set free.

On the 4th Sunday of Advent each year, we get one of three Nativity stories: last year was the Annunciation story from St. Luke of the angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary; the year before that was the story of the angel visiting St. Joseph in a dream, and this year, the story of Mary visiting St. Elizabeth.  So, in a sense, all three stories are visitation stories of sharing the good news of the imminent arrival of Jesus.  

In today’s Gospel, we also hear about being blessed.  Elizabeth says to Mary: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  Luke 1:45

It is similar to another passage in Luke’s Gospel, when in response to a woman in the crowd who had called out to him, Jesus replied with: “(B)lessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”  Luke 11:27-28

In fact, throughout both the Old and New Testaments there are blessings which echo what John said in the Book of Revelation: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.” Revelation 1:3

There’s two parts to the blessings which flow forth in each of these passages – first we have to hear and listen, then we must respond to what we have heard.

The first part should be the easiest.  Week after week we come to Mass to hear God’s Word.  Some of us also pursue God’s Word on our own, through reading of the Bible and other spiritual books, or through electronic media such as the podcasts from Fr. Michael Schmidt and his “Bible in a Year” presentations or Bishop Robert Barron’s recordings offered through his Word on Fire institute.  We “hear” and “listen”, but how do we respond?

We must Observe.  We must Heed.  We must Believe.  Most importantly, We Must BELIEVE.

When St. Joseph received his message from the angel in his dream, he took Mary into his home because he believed what the angel said.  When Mary responded with her “fiat” to Gabriel, “let it be done to me according to your word”, she responded because she believed.  When the infant John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb announcing the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb, Elizabeth knew what it meant because she believed what she felt.

Sounds like the message from the movie, “Polar Express”, when at the end of the movie the young lad who received the golden ticket for the train Tom Hanks punches it with the word, “Believe”.

But just because Mary believed, why did she go to Elizabeth?

I think it was because Elizabeth was the one human person she knew who would understand what she was experiencing. She probably felt an affinity – a connection – with Elizabeth, because she knew that Elizabeth had also experienced a type of miracle conception.  Elizabeth, who in her old age was considered barren, was pregnant.  And Mary knew that divine intervention was involved in both situations. The angel Gabriel had told her so.  And Elizabeth, although not yet a mother herself, could offer her guidance on the practical matters associated with pregnancy that, frankly St. Joseph could never do.  Any man who thinks he can tell his wife what to expect when she gets pregnant takes his life into his own hands.

And so she went “in haste”.  Why so quickly?

From the moment of her conception, Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit and when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you want to proclaim it with great joy.  And who better than to someone who would understand?  The mere fact that the angel Gabriel told her about Elizabeth would have been a sign to Mary that she needed to go to her relative in all haste.  

It’s sort of like when we receive a gift (like at Christmas) that can best be appreciated only when it is shared – whether it be a video game, a new set of golf clubs, or new clothes.  A gift that cannot be shared will never bring as much joy as one that can.  And Jesus is the ultimate gift shared with the world by God his Father.

What about us?  Every year at Christmas we receive a renewal of the gift of faith through our participation in the birthday of Jesus, and it is a time for us to remember others who need the gift of his presence more than ever.  And these last two years should really bring that home, given the isolation so many have experienced, not to mention the losses of loved ones, of jobs, of our peace of mind.

And there is no better gift than to share the love of God with those most in need of His mercy.  There is no shortage of those who need that love.  All you have to do is look around you.  So let us go in haste to those around us: first to those who are closest to us – our family and friends, then to all we encounter.  This Christmas, let us truly be the Light of Christ to all we meet.  Seek out those who are in darkness.  Be their Light.

And then, as Tiny Tim might say, God will bless us, every one.