4th Sunday Advent C - Homily 6

Homily 6 - 2021

St Luke, it seems, liked to write stories — and he did it well. How many times have you reflected on this story that we have just listened to together? And here we go one more time this evening. The story does not change, but we do. At least, I hope we do, as we continue to let events and relationships touch us, particularly if we take the opportunity to reflect and to blend our experiences into the complex but unique tapestry that is our life.

How does the story leave you feeling? If we had read one more sentence from Luke’s narrative, we would have heard how Mary felt. We would have heard the first line of Mary’s Magnificat: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit exults in God my Saviour”. Depending on our relationship to Mary, her exulting in God could trigger our exulting in God, too. Apparently, according to Luke’s story, Mary’s presence to Elisabeth, before she had had time to say anything to her beyond greeting her, released a series of exuberant responses.

The growing child within Elisabeth’s womb, the one who would soon be given the name “John”, and who would grow up to become the Baptist, “leapt with joy”. Such things are mystery to me, but many of you would know well what she was talking about. Was it Mary’s voice that got the future Baptist leaping with joy? Or was it the presence of the Christ-child quietly developing in her womb? Or was it both? Elisabeth’s response leaves both options open.

Luke showed Elisabeth, not jumping like her unborn child, but being “filled with the Holy Spirit” and “giving a loud cry”, presumably of joy too [like her son’s]. She then proclaimed to Mary, “Of all women you are the most blessed”, followed by, “and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. No wonder she “gave a loud cry”: both were worth joyfully shouting out loudly about, and further pondering, “Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” What wonderful insights the Holy Spirit can give!

Luke seems to have wanted to reveal a profound synchronicity, too, between Jesus and John. Even their names will reveal a shared insight into God their Father — Jesus means “God saves”; John means “God is gracious”.

Elisabeth’s final comment makes it possible for us to fit into the scene, without calling for any special miracle. Luke had Elisabeth say of Mary, “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” How much more joy filled might our lives be if only, like Mary, we would believe the promise of God, as both John and [especially] Jesus would later insist, that God is determined “to save us”, because “God is truly gracious”.