From the Pulpit Fourth Sunday of Advent
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FROM THE PULPIT
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C
SCRIPTURE: Micah 5: 1-4; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-45
REFLECTION: THE FAITH OF MARY.
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, CSSp.
The ways of God are not similar to humans’ ways and our mercy falls short of the divine mercy. Oftentimes we expect God to act according to our thoughts and expectations. However, God does wonders in accord with his abundant mercy and kindness. Through Mary and Elizabeth, God chose to disclose himself in ways that were unthinkable to human beings.
Prophet Micah recalled the people of Israel and Judah to the promise God had made to their ancestors. He also gave them a glimpse of the glorious future that awaited Israel and Judah. From Bethlehem shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel; he will be a good shepherd; Israel shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace. Hence, Israel and Judah would better return to fidelity to the Lord.
God, in his great providence, brought Elizabeth and Mary, John and Jesus, in the encounter of the visitation. Elizabeth proclaimed the faith and obedience of Mary. Elizabeth made known to Mary that her ‘yes’ brought her grace and blessings. It made her the highest among women. Mary is the closest human being to God because the only beloved Son of God took flesh from her. Mary received the grace of living in union with God’s Son and being the first beneficiary of redemption wrought by her Son Jesus Christ.
With the faith of Mary, the atonement of humanity’s sins became a reality culminating in Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary. The Letter to the Hebrews takes us from the scene of the visitation to the sacrifice of Calvary in saying, 8” First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. The reason for the son of Mary being born is to do the will of the Heavenly Father. The will of the Father is to redeem humanity by the blood of Jesus his Son. Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary surpassed and annulled all the sacrifices of the Old Testament that proved incapable of taking sins away. The Son of God took flesh of the Virgin Mary, became man like us except sin, in order to sacrifice his human life to God for our salvation.
Hence, enabled by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth was ultimately correct in proclaiming Mary, “blessed” among women”, “blessed” for believing in God’s word, mother of the “blessed” child (fruit of your womb). Mary’s blessedness did not begin and end with her conceiving and giving birth to Jesus but she lived a blessed life as mother and disciple of Jesus Christ. Mary was blessed too by committing herself in nurturing and protecting the baby Jesus throughout his growth. She was present at Calvary and shared his suffering. The prophecy of Micah finds its fulfillment in the Son of Mary, now and in the future. For Jesus is the good shepherd, universal King and peace for the world.
We rejoice with Elizabeth as we meet Mary and Jesus. We recognize how blessed Mary is. We are also reminded of the blessedness of every expectant woman. Let us accompany expectant women with love and encouragement, for from them God offers gifts to the world.
