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Illustration: Visitation by Raphael, c. 1517
Pope Francis Previous Homily for 4th Sunday of Advent
Sunday Gospel (Luke 1:39-45) Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
Pope Francis Previous Homily for 4th Sunday of Advent 2021
The Gospel of the today’s liturgy, fourth Sunday of Advent, tells of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.
After receiving the angel’s announcement, the Virgin did not stay at home to reflect on what had happened, or to consider the problems and pitfalls, of which there were certainly many: for, poor girl, she did not know what to do with this news, with the culture of that time… She did not understand….
On the contrary, she thought first of someone in need; instead of being absorbed in her own problems, she thought of someone in need, she thought of Elizabeth, her relative, advanced in years and with a child, something strange and miraculous.
Mary set out with generosity, undaunted by the inconveniences of the journey, responding to an inner impulse that called her to be close and to help.
It was a long road, mile after mile, and there was no bus: she had to walk.
She went out to help and to share her joy. Mary gave Elizabeth the joy of Jesus, the joy she carried in her heart and in her womb. She went to her and proclaimed her feelings, and this proclamation of her feelings became a prayer, the Magnificat, which we all know. And the text says that Our Lady “arose and went with haste” (v. 39).
She got up and went: let these two verbs guide us on the last leg of our Advent journey.
To arise and to go with haste: these are the two movements that Mary made and that she also invites us to make as Christmas approaches.
First of all, arise.
After the angel’s announcement, the Virgin had a difficult time ahead of her: her unexpected pregnancy exposed her to misunderstanding and even to severe punishment, including stoning in the culture of the time. Imagine the anxiety and worry she must have felt! But she did not get discouraged, she did not get discouraged: she got up. She did not look down at her problems, she looked up to God. And she did not think about whom to ask for help, but to whom to bring help. She always thought of others: this is Mary, always thinking of the needs of others. She would do the same later, at the wedding in Cana, when she noticed that there was no more wine. It is a problem for other people, but she thinks about it and tries to find a solution. Mary always thinks of others. She thinks about us too.
Let us learn from Our Lady this way of reacting: to stand up, especially when difficulties threaten to crush us. To stand up so that we do not get stuck in problems, sink into self-pity or fall into a sadness that paralyses us. But why get up? Because God is great and is ready to lift us up again if we reach out to Him. So let us throw to him the negative thoughts, the fears that block every impulse and prevent us from moving forward. And then let us do as Mary did: let us look around and find someone we can help! Is there an elderly person I know who I can give a little help to, some companionship to? Everyone, think about it. Or offer someone a service, a kindness, a phone call? But who can I help? I stand up and I help. By helping others, we help ourselves to get up out of difficulties.
The second movement is to go in haste.
This does not mean to go with agitation, in a hurry, no, it does not mean that. Rather, it means walking our days with a joyful step, looking forward with confidence, without dragging our feet, being slaves to complaints – these complaints ruin so many lives, because you start complaining and complaining and life drains away. Complaining leads to always looking for someone to blame. On her way to Elizabeth’s house, Mary walks with the speed of one whose heart and life are full of God, full of His joy.
Let us ask ourselves, for our own good: What is my “step”?
Am I active or do I remain in melancholy, in sadness?
Am I moving forward with hope or am I stopping and feeling sorry for myself?
If we continue with the tired step of grumbling and small talk, we will not bring God to anyone, we will only bring bitterness and dark things. Instead, it is very good for us to cultivate a healthy sense of humor, as St Thomas More or St Philip Neri did. We can also ask for this grace, the grace of a healthy sense of humor: it does so much good. Let us not forget that the first act of charity we can do for our neighbors is to offer them a serene and smiling face. It is to bring the joy of Jesus to them, as Mary did to Elizabeth.
May the Mother of God take us by the hand and help us to rise up and hurry towards Christmas.
