First Reading: Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm: 80. R. v. 4; Second Reading: Heb 10:5-10; Gospel: Lk 1:39-45 

THE DIVINE ENCOUNTER

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP   

On the surface, the two principal characters in our gospel reading of today are Mary and Elizabeth her kinswoman. But beneath the surface, the two main characters are actually Jesus and John his cousin who would become the Baptist. Mary and Elizabeth took the stage in today’s gospel as divine channels to usher in a new era in the history of salvation. By the time of Mary’s visit, Zechariah the husband of Elizabeth in his old age was made mute by an angel as a temporary discipline to admonish his doubt of the divine message (Lk 1:20). Mary’s temporary visit would ease the load of domestic work and also relieve Elizabeth the burden of gestating and prepping for delivery all on her own at old age. Mary’s visit was indeed soothing.

But aside the domestic relevance of Mary’s visit, the great encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and John highlight the dawn of a new era. A timely transition from the old prophetic era to the dawn of divine Incarnation; from the old practices of Judaism to the new faith of Christianity. Our gospel reading of today underscores these realities.

Elizabeth’s conception at old age reveals the divine action of God who brings new life out of the old. Her encounter with Mary was the meeting of two mothers – The mother of the last Old Testament prophets and the mother of the divine Son of God who is the fulfilment of the prophecies of old and the originator of the Christian faith in the New Testament. By the greetings of Mary, Elizabeth received the Holy Spirit, and John the baby in her womb was baptised by the Spirit for his future prophetic role (Lk 1:41). Just as Elizabeth acknowledged Mary as the mother of her Lord (Lk 1:43), so will John point to Christ as the expected Messiah (Jn 1:29). As Mary invoked the Holy Spirit on meeting Elizabeth, so will Christ invoke the Holy Spirit from heaven on meeting with John at his baptism (Mt 3:16). The ministry of John will bring to an end the era of the Old Testament Judaic prophets; and the ministry of Christ will usher in the beginning of the Christian faith.

There is another comparative transition that happened in this great encounter which explains why Mary holds the title – “The Ark of the Covenant.” In the history of the ancient Israel, the Ark of the Covenant was the abiding presence of God (Gn 40:34-35). Relatively speaking, it is like the tabernacle in the Catholic Church today. But unlike the tabernacle in our Churches where Christ is really and fully present in the Eucharist body and soul; the Ark of the Covenant of the ancient Israel contains only figures that played a crucial role in the liberation of Israel from slavery en route to the Promised Land. Figures such as the Ten Commandments, the Manna from heaven, and Aaron’s rod that budded.

Today in the Catholic Church, Mary is compared to the Ark of the Covenant, or put differently, is recognised as the new Ark of the Covenant because her journey to the city of Judah in today’s gospel is reminiscent of the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem when David was king of ancient Israel and Judah. Just as the Ark of the Covenant was carried from the hills to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6:2-3), so did Mary pregnant with the divine Son of God journeyed through the hills of Jerusalem to visit her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:39). King David rejoiced before the Ark (2 Sam 6:12), John leaped in the womb before Mary the God-bearer (Lk 1:41). Like David exclaimed, “How can the Ark of the Lord come to me.” (2 Sam 6:9), similarly, Elizabeth exclaimed, “Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Lk 1:43). Just like the Ark remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months (2 Sam 6:10-11), so did Mary remain in the house of Zechariah for a period of three months (Lk 1:56). The Ark brought blessing to the house of Obed-edom (2 Sam 6:11-12), Mary the God-bearer brought blessing to the home of Zechariah (Lk 1:41).

But unlike the old Ark of the Covenant moveable only by human hands, Mary became a moving tabernacle not selfish with the presence of God she carries but chose to take the Incarnate Son of God to the home of Zechariah. And for this reason, Elizabeth was filled with the presence of God, her baby John was baptised by the Holy Spirit, and the home of Zechariah was blessed forever.

The fruit of Mary’s womb – Christ the divine Son of God is God’s greatest gift to mankind. God is no longer spirit that we cannot see and touch but has become one like us. God no longer needs the prophets to speak on his behalf for he now directly speaks to us himself. God’s presence is no longer represented in figures but has become real in flesh and blood. These divine transitions are all revealed in that one great encounter between Mary and Elizabeth.         

Just like Mary, we also carry within us the divine presence of God through the sacraments of the Church. We do not receive Christ in the Eucharist at Mass to remain lukewarm but to take Christ to our world. Once the priest announces: “Go, the Mass is ended,” we are sent. And just like Mary, we must arise with haste and hurry into our communities to bring Christ to them. We bring Christ to our communities when we choose to be humble like Mary, not allowing our statuses and achievements go to our heads but treating everyone with utmost respect, care and dignity. We bring Christ to our communities when we choose to serve just like Mary, so that those we serve will feel the love of God through our works of charity. We bring Christ to our communities when the things we say or do for others brings them joy and relieve, not sadness and pain. We bring Christ to our communities when we are sensitive to the needs of others just like Mary and are ready to sacrifice our own needs, if need be, to accommodate them.

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, our mission is to carry on this beautiful visitation of Mary by leaving the imprints of God’s love in the hearts of those who encounter us. This mission beckons us even more as Christmas fast approaches. So that the joy of Christmas may not fade away for our lack of love and charity.          

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, grant us the spirit of Mary your mother that we may be constantly disposed to love and to serve one another. Amen.