Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent - 12/20/09

Today’s readings show us the Scriptural basis for one of the mysteries of the rosary.  So I’d like to thread my homily through our praying this mystery, the second joyful mystery, the Visitation.  

    First the context: this Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth takes place right after the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced the invitation by God for Mary to become the virgin mother of the Christ, the Son of God.  The Incarnation relied on this 14 year old virgin’s willingness to accede to what seemed to be the impossible will of God. After Mary gave her response, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me as you say,” she proceeded in haste to visit Elizabeth who was now 6 months pregnant with John the Baptist.

    Mary’s willingness to accept the mysterious, impossible will of God is reflected in our second reading’s emphasis on doing the will of God, “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”  This is also captured in the prayer our Savior gave us, "Thy will be done"; so let us begin by praying the Our Father.  I’ll say the first half of these prayers, you say the second half.  Our Father . . .

    It was a 4 day journey from Nazareth to where Elizabeth and Zechariah lived.  Who did she go with?  What does it mean that she proceeded in haste? Did she have her parents’ permission?  Did anyone go with her?  Hail Mary 1 . . .

    Why did she go to see Elizabeth?  Was it care for an elderly cousin who would need the help Mary could offer her in the last months of her pregnancy and during the birth of John?  Or was it also that she wanted to share with Elizabeth the awesome events that had taken place with her most mysterious way of conceiving a child?  Surely Elizabeth would find her story believable!  Hail Mary 2 . . .

    Imagine being Elizabeth, hearing the greeting of Mary as she entered the house.  How would she have known that “the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  Perhaps another message from Gabriel?  But imagine the joy of being visited by the mother of my Lord! Hail Mary 3 . . .

Imagine Elizabeth’s feeling John’s leap in her womb, John who was still 3 months away from being born.  And imagine the experience she had of being filled with the Holy Spirit, and knowing it!  Hail Mary 4 . . .

    Trust.  That was the virtue of both of these women.  Trust in God who could indeed do what He promises to do, even if it seems impossible.  Hail Mary 5 . . .

    What am I asked by the Lord to do that seems impossible?  Keeping my vows?  Loving and honoring a spouse all the days of my life?  Raising a child and loving a child when the child becomes seemingly unlovable?  Keeping the faith, when all around me it seems that falling away is easier to do?  Hail Mary 6 . . .

    Yes, the Lord does indeed sometimes ask “the impossible” of us, like sobriety for those who are addicted.  Or, chastity for those who are beleaguered with temptation.  Hail Mary 7 . . .

    “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  Do I believe the promise of the Lord? That “this is the will of my Father, that I should nothing of what He has given me.”  That he will search for me, and for my loved ones, like the good shepherd going in search of his lost sheep.  Hail Mary 8 . . .

    “Lord, let us see your face and we shall be saved.”  This Friday Lord we celebrate your birth.  Give us through the intercession of Mary your mother that we too in some mystical way may look upon your face and be saved.  Hail Mary 9 . . .

    O Mary, intercede for us and ask Your Divine Son that He may give us the grace of yearning to see His face, the grace of final perseverance, the grace of being with you in heaven.  Hail Mary 10

    And now, O God, teach us through this mystery of the Visitation that we need never be afraid, and following the example of Mary and Elizabeth, we can place all of our trust in You.  Glory to the Father . . .