Fourth Sunday of Advent 2024

Luke 1:39-55

   Rev. Neli Miranda

 

The Good news of the Fourth Sunday of Advent come to us from a humble home in Judea, Elizabeth & Zechariah’s home. Here, perhaps at the entrance of the house or within the inviting warmth of the kitchen two pregnant women, Mary and Elizabeth talk about “women things”, about life, about God among them. They are not in a public space, nor in the temple or the synagogue; they are in an intimate, domestic sphere, that space where God’s visitation continually occurs.

Mary and Elizabeth are faithful believers who have awaited God’s manifestation to the people. Now, both have been graced with the visit of Life and God is coming to the people through their very wombs. Elizabeth is about six months pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary has recently received the annunciation that she bears a son, the Son of God. The womb, traditionally considered only a reproductive organ, is now a sacred space from which God’s manifestation emerges. 

The angel’s announcement has surprised young Mary; nevertheless, she decisively has responded: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Lk. 1,38).  Still surprised and surely filled with many doubts, Mary hastily goes to see her cousin Elizabeth to seek sisterly comfort. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth becomes divinely aware of Mary’s pregnancy, and her joy resonates along with her child who leaps in her womb.  With visible anticipation, Elizabeth’s child is celebrating Jesus’ forthcoming arrival!! Elizabeth blesses Mary proclaiming, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Lk. ,42-45). 

Elizabeth’s warm company and unwavering faith reaffirm and comfort Mary, affirming her important role in God’s plans. In response to Elizabeth’s greeting, Mary is infused with joy and breaks into a revolutionary song, The Magnificat. Her prophetic voice proclaims God’s justice among the people as she denounces the prevailing oppressive structures of her time, and enunciates a future of equality and equity where disparities between rich and poor are eradicated. Mary praises God’s power, mercy and solidarity with the poor, and looks forward to God transforming the world, where the mighty are dethroned, the humble exalted, the hungry satisfied, and the wealthy humbled.

Dear sisters and brothers, Advent is a season of gestation as we await the arrival of the newborn, Emmanuel. Have you received the angel’s visitation? Have you felt the baby leaping in the depths of your being? Today, Mary and Elizabeth remind us that the divine manifestation traverses our bodies, embracing our humanity, and occurs within the intimate spaces of our homes. Therefore, during Advent God visits us, inviting us to gestate life and prepare ourselves to bring forth Emmanuel at Christmas.

Today, Mary also reminds us that Advent is the season for proclaiming justice and dreaming about the Kingdom of God among us, where all gather together without social divides, where the marginalized are uplifted, where the rich empty their hands as they share with the hungry, and where those in need are filled with great abundance.

Let us rejoice today with Mary and Elizabeth, prophets of Advent. Let us be Mary and Elizabeth, gestating God’s visitation to the world.  Amen.