Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

My sisters: from left:
Peggy, Becky, Cathy, Mary Lou, Janet

O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae,
et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.

Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth. 

With Christmas just around the corner, we hear of the young lover, springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. The lover is like a gazelle or a young stag – but in this case it is the young woman, Mary, heading for Jerusalem. Traditionally writers and preachers have said she is going to assist her unexpectedly pregnant, elderly kinswoman.

Nonsense!

She wants to see the sign the angel has revealed to her! Now some people would take that as a sign of doubt on Mary’s part. She should not need “to see signs.”

I say, of course she doesn’t need to see the sign. Do people do things only because they need to or have to? But if someone says, “Come look at the beautiful rainbow!” won’t you get up and walk outside and look at it? Will you say, “I’ll take your word for it. It’s beautiful?” No, you’ll go out to look at it and be elated at its splendor.

So Mary goes to Elizabeth to see the wonderful sign of God’s mercy.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth is the center of Saint Luke’s Infancy narrative, for in this delightful scene he unites two different stories – one about John the Baptist and the other about Jesus. These two women celebrate with ecstatic joy something the world cannot see or imagine. With their labor a new age will be born. The Prophet and the Messiah will appear.

Just as Saint Matthew’s infancy narrative is dark with foreboding, Saint Luke’s is filled with light. There is little suggestion of sorrow or suffering. Even the poverty of Jesus’ birth in a manger seems charming and comfortable, especially as he is welcomed by his own, the shepherds.

The gospel of Mary and Elizabeth has often been told in icons. It finds an echo in the many apparitions of Mary. Like Elizabeth we greet her with joy, for she bears the Christ Child and all ages to come will call her blessed.