The Joy of Encounter  

December 21, Tuesday

FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT

 

         Few things, if any, are more beautiful on the human and the divine level than the encounter between persons. An encounter is a great joy and grace. The first reading speaks of the encounter between a suitor and the young woman he loves; this is probably an image of the love between God and Israel. In the gospel, Elizabeth encounters Mary; even the unborn John the Baptist encounters the Savior and his mother. Deeper than meetings between people in business, science, politics, or their jobs, are the understanding, love and sharing of real human encounters. This is the kind of encounter that awaits us with the Lord on Christmas and in this Eucharist. Encounters are even deeper when God is present in them.

 

First Reading: Song 2:8-14

Look! Listen! There’s my lover!
    Do you see him coming?
Vaulting the mountains,
    leaping the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle, graceful;
    like a young stag, virile.
Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate,
    all ears, all eyes—ready!
My lover has arrived
    and he’s speaking to me!

Get up, my dear friend,
    fair and beautiful lover—come to me!
Look around you: Winter is over;
    the winter rains are over, gone!
Spring flowers are in blossom all over.
    The whole world’s a choir—and singing!
Spring warblers are filling the forest
    with sweet arpeggios.
Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,
    and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms.
Oh, get up, dear friend,
    my fair and beautiful lover—come to me!
Come, my shy and modest dove—
    leave your seclusion, come out in the open.
Let me see your face,
    let me hear your voice.
For your voice is soothing
    and your face is ravishing.

 

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You’re so blessed among women,
    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
    the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
    greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
    believed every word would come true!

 

Prayer

God, we tend to lose ourselves
in the bustle and stir of the day,
in our work and our petty worries.
Give us the freshness of heart
to look for the things that matter,
those that make our lives deeply human
and at the same time, open us
to your world and to your values.
Make us long to encounter you with joy,
that we may discover again the quality
of gratuitous giving, of respect,
and of carefree self-forgetting love,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

What we carry in our hearts are shown on our faces and words

After the annunciation to Mary by Angel Gabriel, she takes up a commitment to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is already six-months pregnant. Gospel says Mary remained with her for about three months before returning home – perhaps until the birth of John the Baptist.

The visit of the Angel of God brought Mary blessings and happiness and the Holy Spirit of God. God the Son was conceived in her womb. And now Mary returns the favour by visiting Elizabeth. What does Mary bring to Elizabeth? She brings her the same gifts that she had received from God: Happiness and the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth noticed it right away: “As soon as your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.” Remember, during the annunciation, the angel had promised Mary: “the Holy Spirit will come up on you…” And now, when Mary visits Elizabeth, she transmits the same Holy Spirit to her. Today’s Gospel tells us that Elizabeth “was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Important things are transmitted like a contagion. Like faith, trust, love, hope … What we carry in our hearts are shown on our faces and words.

During her visit to Elizabeth, Mary also receives something in return. She receives the confirmation of the path that she has begun: Elizabeth gives two important confirmation when she says: “Blessed are you who have believed …”. and “why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me?” confirming Mary that she is the Mother of the Lord.

The visits of God are both a gift and a task. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we too are loved and chosen for a mission. That mission puts us on the path to visit others, who might be in need of our words of encouragement, words of comfort and appreciation and also in need of our patient listening. When we give, we receive new gifts.

In this Christmas, visiting our friends and family may not be a possibility, and Christmas parties and exchange of gifts may not be a good idea. But then, find time to call up your family members who are away from you, and also greet the elderly neighbour or a friend who is ill, inquire of their well-being in this time of isolation and financial struggles. Share time, talent and treasure with those in need of them the most.

 

Video available on Youtube: What we carry in our hearts are shown on our faces and words