Joyful anticipation

 Every time I read Saint Luke’s account of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, I find myself reflecting on the phrase, "Mary set out in haste..." [Luke 1:39-45].  The phrase "in haste" could mean "quickly", or it can mean "in joyful anticipation".  I can appreciate why Luke used the phrase in the way he did.

There are a few Bible passages that anticipate the joy of the Incarnation.  Micah's prophecy, though written eight centuries before the coming of Christ, shows us how far in advance God planned "from ancient times" to send a shepherd king who would lovingly heal His people.  He would come as one of us - vulnerable and humble - to atone for the sins and shortcomings of the leaders of both kingdoms. Micah's prophecies were usually condemnatory, but the prophecy I’m reflecting on today promises a bright future [Micah 5:1-4].

The book of Hebrews emphasizes the self-sacrifice of Jesus.  Even as He comes as a sweet, tiny baby, the manger is really a bed of sacrifice.  He gives Himself freely from love.  This love is the astounding fact about Christmas.  It’s the birth of a Divine love enriching our selfish human nature.  He comes that we too may learn to sacrifice ourselves to the Father and to consecrate ourselves to Divine Love for the benefit of our neighbor, and indeed, for the whole world [Hebrews 10:5-10].

And the Gospel is an intimate encounter between two women of faith.  Both have trusted in the secrecy of pregnancy. They both are moved to share their secrets.  It’s said that a person is as sick as their secrets.  It seems that healthy secrets are those that will result in life, growth and joyfulness.

Mary has been greeted by an angel and trusts what she hears in her soul.  The first thing she is moved to do is to check it out with her cousin whom she has heard is pregnant too.  Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting and trusts what she hears and feels within her body.  Through the Spirit, both Elizabeth and the unborn John the Baptist, prophesy as to the blessedness of Mary and the greatness of her Son.  

Which leads me to another thing that Elizabeth says to Mary: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  Blessed are we who believe that what has been spoken to us will be fulfilled for us, and in us, and through us.  Can we believe that God is for us?  That God doesn’t seek our destruction but our healing and redemption?  That the promise that is Christmas has been fulfilled for us in Jesus Christ and will come to complete fulfillment in the coming of the kingdom?  As we near the end of Advent, it may be fruitful for all of us to reflect on how we can be ambassadors so that others can believe that what has been spoken to them will be fulfilled.  I think a good way to do that is to go back to the words of Elizabeth: “and how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  How would our Advent and Christmas and New Year be if every time we encountered someone we would wonder, “How does this happen to me, that the brother or sister of my Lord should come to me?”  Isn’t making room for Jesus inextricably linked to making room for our sisters or brothers?

It's never too late to start over.  In “haste”, let's make one final attempt this Advent to banish the fear and depression brought on by the daily news reports, and to stir up our joy in the action of the Holy Spirit on a young girl and her elderly cousin living in a backwater village like Bethlehem.  The Child born for us is still working His miracles of love.  He still promises eventual peace to our world.