Sunday, December 19, 2021: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Gospel – Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Reflection

Isn’t this a wonderful passage about friendship and cousin relationship? It is an intimate picture of Mary coming in haste to Elizabeth to spend time and visit and enjoy one another’s company. I love that the author shared with us that Mary came in haste.

Elizabeth must know Mary so well that she can feel in her own body the power of the YES that Mary’s life proclaims. What a testimony to how friends and cousins allow us to share all of ourselves – our excitement, our fears, our important decisions, and the courageous aspirations of our hopes and beliefs. Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary must have felt supportive and loving to Mary’s ears.

She was not alone because her cousin, her friend, understood and rejoiced with her. How fortunate that the early “good news” of Jesus is shared between two women who were both cousins, and friends. We may all have hope in this story.

Action

We all have good things happening in and around our daily lives. Take time this week to contact someone you are close to and share some good news.