4th Sunday of Advent

My dear parishioners,

God is Good!!!  All the time!!!  And all the time!!!  God is Good!!!

Micah’s oracles unfold as a series of charges brought by God against the people of Israel. In a nutshell, God’s complaint is that the people have not been sincere in their relationship with the Lord. Their history is filled with disobedience to the word of God—all this in spite of the many gifts God bestowed upon them. But this reading comes from a portion in the book in which God looks ahead to brighter days.

The kings of old allowed pride to interfere in their service to God. But one day God will raise up for the people a king worthy of the title. This ideal ruler will come from Bethlehem just as David did. David’s birthplace may have seemed insignificant to some. But God’s plan is not influenced by such limited thinking. By God’s design, this new king will accomplish what others could not. Their misguided choices led to divisions and separation. Under the direction of this new good king, the people will return to their homeland. The kingdom will once again be unified under one monarch.

The former occupants of David’s throne proved to be bad shepherds. Their misguided policies harmed the very people they were supposed to care for. The flock of Israel grew weaker, both spiritually and physically, under the rule of such kings. But this new king will feed his flock. At last, the nation will be secure, no longer vulnerable to all the injuries of sin and ignorance. The renown of this new ruler will be universal.

This passage serves to connect the annunciations of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus with the birth stories of both. In every instance, Lk shows that whatever happens to John the Baptist is superseded by what happens with Jesus. This story of the visitation of Mary to her relative Elizabeth continues that theme. Mary had learned from the angel Gabriel that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age (Lk 1:36). Therefore, Mary set out with haste to visit Elizabeth. Upon arrival, Mary offers Elizabeth a greeting and, up to this point, everything seems normal. That quickly changes.

No sooner does Elizabeth hear the greeting of Mary than Elizabeth’s unborn child leaps in her womb. This can be understood as the very first prophetic action performed by John the Baptist, and it happens while he is still in the womb. This leaping in the womb is an action of recognition. While still in the womb, John the Baptist recognizes the superiority of Jesus, who is also still in the womb. Because Elizabeth is now filled with the Holy Spirit, she correctly understands what is happening, and she responds accordingly. She recognizes that Mary is carrying the Lord in her womb, and that makes Mary the mother of the Lord. Elizabeth thus imparts to Mary a twofold blessing.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

 Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius