2024/12/22 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Fourth Sunday of Advent
- Joanna Krynski, Communications Manager
This weekend marks the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, and our anticipation grows as we prepare to welcome the birth of Christ, our Light and our Savior. As I envision the scene of Sunday’s Gospel, I see it play out with such love, joy, and connection—between the cousins Elizabeth and Mary, between each pregnant mother and the child in her womb, and ultimately, with God.
This Gospel brings us to a profound moment of encounter between cousins Mary and Elizabeth—two women whose faith and humility open them to the extraordinary. Mary, having received the angel’s message, sets off in haste to visit Elizabeth, who also is carrying a child under miraculous circumstances. Their meeting is not just a simple visit, but a shared moment of recognizing God's presence in their lives and the deep faith and trust they place in His plan.
As Elizabeth feels the infant in her womb leap for joy when she greets Mary, she is filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizing that Mary carries the Lord within her. Elizabeth exclaims, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." We see not only the joy and connection of these two women, but a profound acknowledgment of God's work in their lives.
As I reflect on this Gospel, I am reminded of the love, joy, and gratitude that filled my own heart during my pregnancies. I remember the little kicks and movements of my children, and how those sensations helped connect me to as well as feel a sense of wonder at the new life being formed. I imagine that Elizabeth must have felt the same way as she felt the movement of her child, the baby who would grow up to be John the Baptist.
While not everyone experiences pregnancy, and for some, the longing for a child may bring sorrow or pain, the joy that Mary and Elizabeth experience goes beyond the physical experience of pregnancy. It is a joy rooted in God's presence with them—Emmanuel, God with us. This joy is available to all, regardless of our circumstances, because God's love, joy, and promise are for everyone.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are invited to carry God’s presence in our own lives. Like Mary, we are called to respond with faith, humility, and joy, and to recognize God in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives. Elizabeth’s words remind us that true joy comes from seeing Christ in our midst—even in the most unexpected of places—and sharing that experience with others. In these final days of Advent, as we anticipate Christ’s birth, let us open our hearts to receive Him, not only in the manger but in everyday moments. May we carry His joy to others and trust that God will fulfill His promises. I wish you and your loved ones a very Blessed & Merry Christmas!