Pour forth; we beseech you, O Lord,
Your grace into our hearts.
Only one day that separates this fourth Sunday of Advent from the Holy Christmas when God became human so that we might become children of God and therefore true humans to ourselves and others. There was an old woman in my village who lived alone and every month as a small Christian community we organized to visit her with some firewood, flour, sugar and some soap. She always became joyful and never wanted us to leave soon and she would engage us with joyful stories of her young life until her age of 80’s. Our visit made her feel appreciated and loved. She felt joy and some peace and our visit confirmed her true humanness.
The Lord is coming to visit us with his peace and elevate our humanness. Mary is the model of visiting and sharing with others because she was filled with the visit of the Lord; “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a city of Judah and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk 1:39). Nothing is more beautiful, urgent and important than freely offering ourselves like Mary to share the Good News of the Lord’s deeds in our lives. Nothing is greater than to fill the lives of others with joy and blessing we have received from the Lord. Mary shows us how to do this. She runs quickly to share her joy and blessing with Elizabeth and at the same time communicate Jesus to her.
Mary is the model of an evangelizing and a sharing disciple. She invites us to become evangelizing disciples of Christ’s love with joy. She was eager and joyful to reach out to her elderly relative so as to help her. Christmas is knocking at the door and like Mary let us be eager to share ourselves, our talents and peace with others. That is what Christmas is all about.
Elizabeth is filled with surprise of Mary’s visit and she exclaimed with a loud voice, “And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43). To celebrate Christmas in a manner that bears fruits in our lives; the fruits of joy and peace, we should get ready to surprise others with our gift of peace and sharing.
Let us surprise others this Christmas with a sense of care and nurturing, let us give a surprise of joy to the lonely and the poor. The birth of Jesus brings change and undeserved gift yet bringing us salvation and revealing God’s unconditional love and care, solidarity and peace. Let us encounter the little humble Jesus and nurture his love and teachings to grow in our hearts, families and church. Create peace! Become peace!
Let us encounter the little and growing Jesus in our sharing with others through our closeness to them. God has become so close to us so as to teach us to be close to others and become joyous and peaceful disciples to them.
Joy and Peace.
