Fourth Sunday of Advent: Gospel C

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

· Having heard the word of the Lord, Mary left quickly to provide service to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary was obedient to the Lord. How quickly do we obey the Lord?

· From Nazareth to Elizabeth’s was about 80 miles. Imagine what is going through her mind during this time.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, 

· Already the Angel had prophesied that the baby conceived by Elizabeth would be filled with the Holy Spirit while he was in the womb. Remember the words of the Angel to Zachariah.

· Already we have seen that Mary is full of the Spirit and that Jesus also is in his humanity as he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

· Now, in Luke’s first chapter, Elizabeth is the fourth person to be filled with the Spirit.

· Do you think that this was a coincidence or do you think it is the very plan of God that we be filled with the Holy Spirit? To what extent are you filled with the Spirit and are following the lead of the Spirit?

cried out in a loud voice and said,  “Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

· Filled with the Spirit, Elizabeth confirms that the words of the angel to Mary are true: she has conceived a child by the power of the Spirit. What Mary accepted in faith is now confirmed by Elizabeth, who would not know this, except by the inspiration of the Spirit.

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

· Elizabeth not only confirms the word of God but prophesizes that Mary’s faith has and will be confirmed.

· Mary’s faith in the word of God without seeing is credited to her as the foundation of her own joy and blessedness.

· To what extent do we act on the word of God in faith and obedience because it is the word of God? Like Jesus and Mary we are called to do the will of God because it is the will of God.

· May the Spirit of God once more stir in your heart as you reflect and respond to the word of God in this reading!

· What do you take from this reflection to apply to your life?