Here is the text of the reflection that I shared with those who came to pray with us, just days before the celebration of Christmas.
Every year, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we encounter Mary, the mother of Jesus. Different parts of the story are recounted from one year to another. This year, we meet Mary as she arrives at the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth; the moment of their initial meeting is described in the gospel of Saint Luke as a particularly joyous occasion, and this joy helps us to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb (Lk 1:41). In many parts of the Orient, when two people meet, they will bow to one another as a sign of greeting and respect for each other. In some traditions, the belief is that the two persons who meet are recognizing the spirit that dwells within the person they are meeting. Even before Mary and Elizabeth had exchanged any words, the child Elizabeth was carrying within her was aware that the Son of God was near, and with a leap, was alerting Elizabeth to the fact that this beloved relative of hers was indeed highly favoured.
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry: ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb’ (Lk 1:42). The scriptures speak of the angel’s conversation with Mary and so we know that Gabriel revealed to her the fact that her relative Elizabeth had ... conceived a son in her old age (cf Lk 1:36) but we are not told of any such apparition to Elizabeth, so it is possible that Elizabeth was unaware of Mary’s joyful news until the young girl arrived on the threshold of the older woman’s doorstep. If this was indeed the case, the child leaping in Elizabeth’s womb and the words of greeting she offered are both signs that even before his birth, John the Baptist recognized the person of Jesus, and John’s joy was echoed in Elizabeth’s words.
During the three months that Mary stayed with Elizabeth (cf Lk 1:56), they had many occasions to spend time together. Both these women would have been aware of the prophets and the words they had spoken. It is quite possible that they pondered together the words that we heard in today’s first reading: from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel (Mi 5:1). Along with their wondering about what the future would hold, both these women – the older one who had already lived her life, who had perhaps given up on the possibility of ever knowing the joy of having a child of her own, and the younger one who was only just setting out on life’s journey – would have pondered the wisdom of the prophet’s teaching. What wonderful conversations they must have had. I wonder if they both had moments of quiet reflection and prayer during which they were aware that they were in the presence of God, already participating in the miracle of bringing forth the one who would prepare the way and the one who would rule in Israel.
As we continue our preparations over the next few days for the celebration of Christmas, let us ask Mary and Elizabeth to share their joy with us. Let us also humbly place ourselves in the presence of our God, as they did, simply saying: I have come to do your will (Heb 5:7).
A special visitor
Every year, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we encounter Mary, the mother of Jesus. Different parts of the story are recounted from one year to another. This year, we meet Mary as she arrives at the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth; the moment of their initial meeting is described in the gospel of Saint Luke as a particularly joyous occasion, and this joy helps us to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb (Lk 1:41). In many parts of the Orient, when two people meet, they will bow to one another as a sign of greeting and respect for each other. In some traditions, the belief is that the two persons who meet are recognizing the spirit that dwells within the person they are meeting. Even before Mary and Elizabeth had exchanged any words, the child Elizabeth was carrying within her was aware that the Son of God was near, and with a leap, was alerting Elizabeth to the fact that this beloved relative of hers was indeed highly favoured.
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry: ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb’ (Lk 1:42). The scriptures speak of the angel’s conversation with Mary and so we know that Gabriel revealed to her the fact that her relative Elizabeth had ... conceived a son in her old age (cf Lk 1:36) but we are not told of any such apparition to Elizabeth, so it is possible that Elizabeth was unaware of Mary’s joyful news until the young girl arrived on the threshold of the older woman’s doorstep. If this was indeed the case, the child leaping in Elizabeth’s womb and the words of greeting she offered are both signs that even before his birth, John the Baptist recognized the person of Jesus, and John’s joy was echoed in Elizabeth’s words.
During the three months that Mary stayed with Elizabeth (cf Lk 1:56), they had many occasions to spend time together. Both these women would have been aware of the prophets and the words they had spoken. It is quite possible that they pondered together the words that we heard in today’s first reading: from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel (Mi 5:1). Along with their wondering about what the future would hold, both these women – the older one who had already lived her life, who had perhaps given up on the possibility of ever knowing the joy of having a child of her own, and the younger one who was only just setting out on life’s journey – would have pondered the wisdom of the prophet’s teaching. What wonderful conversations they must have had. I wonder if they both had moments of quiet reflection and prayer during which they were aware that they were in the presence of God, already participating in the miracle of bringing forth the one who would prepare the way and the one who would rule in Israel.
As we continue our preparations over the next few days for the celebration of Christmas, let us ask Mary and Elizabeth to share their joy with us. Let us also humbly place ourselves in the presence of our God, as they did, simply saying: I have come to do your will (Heb 5:7).
Un visiteur spécial
Chaque année, lors du quatrième dimanche de l'Avent, nous rencontrons Marie, la mère de Jésus. Il y a différentes parties de l'histoire qui sont racontées d'une année à l'autre. Cette année, nous rencontrons Marie alors qu'elle arrive à la maison de Zacharie et d'Élisabeth; le moment de leur première rencontre est décrit dans l'évangile de saint Luc comme une occasion particulièrement joyeuse et cette joie nous aide à préparer nos cœurs à la célébration de Noël.
Quand Élisabeth entendit la salutation de Marie, l’enfant tressaillit en elle (Lc 1,41). Dans de nombreuses régions de l’Orient, lorsque deux personnes se rencontrent, elles s’inclinent en signe de salutation et de respect mutuel. Selon certaines traditions, les deux personnes qui se rencontrent reconnaissent l’esprit qui habite la personne qu’elles rencontrent. Même avant que Marie et Élisabeth aient échangé des paroles, l'enfant qu’Élisabeth portait en elle était conscient que le Fils de Dieu était proche et, en tressaillant, alertait Élisabeth que Marie était vraiment très favorisée.
Élisabeth fut remplie d’Esprit saint et s’écria d’une voix forte: ‘Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni’ (Lc 1, 42). Les Écritures racontent la conversation que l'ange du Seigneur a eue avec Marie et nous savons donc que Gabriel lui a révélé le fait que sa parente Élisabeth avait … conçu un fils dans sa vieillesse (cf Lc 1,36), mais rien ne nous a été dit concernant une telle apparition à Elisabeth. Il est donc possible qu’Elisabeth n’ait pas eu connaissance de la joyeuse nouvelle qui était partagée avec Marie jusqu’à ce que la jeune fille arrive chez la femme âgée. Si tel était bien le cas, l’enfant qui tressaillait dans le ventre d’Élisabeth et les paroles de salutation qu’elle prononçait sont des signes du fait que même avant sa naissance, Jean-Baptiste reconnaissait la personne de Jésus et que la joie de Jean se répercutait dans les paroles d’Élisabeth.
Pendant les trois mois de séjour de Marie chez Élisabeth (cf Lc 1,56), elles eurent souvent l'occasion de passer du temps ensemble. Ces deux femmes auraient été au courant des prophètes et des paroles qu'ils avaient prononcées. Il est tout à fait possible qu’elles aient réfléchi ensemble aux paroles que nous avons entendues lors de la première lecture d’aujourd’hui: de toi ... sortira pour moi celui qui doit gouverner Israël (Mi 5: 1). En même temps qu'elles se demandaient ce que l'avenir leur réservait, ces deux femmes - la plus âgée qui avait déjà vécu sa vie, qui avait même peut-être renoncé à la possibilité de connaître la joie d'accueillir un enfant, et la plus jeune qui ne faisait que commencer sa vie - auraient réfléchi à la sagesse de l'enseignement du prophète. Quelles conversations merveilleuses elles ont dû avoir. Je me demande si elles ont toutes deux eu des moments de réflexion et de prière tranquilles au cours desquels elles se sont rendu compte du fait qu'elles étaient en présence du Seigneur et qu'elles participaient déjà au miracle de créer celui qui préparerait le chemin ainsi que celui qui régnerait en Israël.
Alors que nous poursuivons nos préparatifs au cours des prochains jours en vue de la célébration de Noël, invitons Marie et Élisabeth à partager leur joie avec nous. Posons-nous aussi humblement en présence de notre Dieu, comme elles l'ont fait, en disant simplement: Je suis venu pour faire ta volonté (Héb 5: 7).
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