Homily for December 21
Luke
1: 39-45
Christian
Brothers, St. Joseph Residence, New Rochelle
“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in
haste” (Luke 1: 39).
Commentators note that Mary “set out in haste.” We’re not told what her motive was—needing to share with Elizabeth the startling news of her own sudden pregnancy, a desire to accompany her elder kinswoman in her own unexpected pregnancy, now well advanced, “in its 6th month” (1:36), getting out of town while she pondered how to speak to Joseph, or some other reason. Whatever Mary’s motive, she’s perceived a need to act, and she acts at once—not as we do so often, putting off some responsibility as long as we can, maybe hoping it’ll go away. Mary shows us a better way to act when we know what we must do—quickly.
Then we notice Elizabeth’s
reaction to Mary’s arrival—not only Mary’s but her child’s: “How does this happen to me, that the mother
of my Lord should come to me?” (1:43).
It’s a humble reaction, turned toward the other person in spite of her
own marvelous blessing. It acknowledges
something greater than her own blessing now present, to which she must bow in
awe. Do we pause sometimes to marvel at
the great things which, other great people whom, God has put along our path?
Then our attention goes to
the reaction of the unborn child in Elizabeth’s womb. He “leaps for joy” (1:41,44). Luke in fact says it twice. John exults in the presence of his Lord, like
David leaping before the ark of the covenant that he’s leading into Jerusalem
(2 Sam 6:14-16). John teaches us to
rejoice that God has come into our lives.
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