JOYFUL PRESENCE
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
“What should we do to welcome Jesus, the Messiah? What should we do?” Excited by the preaching of John the Baptist, people from different walks of life came to him and said. This was the last Sunday’s gospel reading. On this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, the Church raises another important question: What can happen to a person who comes under the influence of God? What are the fruits of spiritual living? The life of Mary is the perfect answer to this question. Hence, the Gospel story on this Sunday, focuses on the life of Mary. Mary made a fundamental option for God when she said ‘yes’ to the Angel. The result was the complete taking over of Mary by the Holy Spirit. She became all together a different person. God’s presence in Mary’s life found expression in four different ways. Anyone who surrenders one’s life to the will of God will manifest the same fruits.
1. HUMBLE PRESENCE
Mary became the Mother of God, a position no one can wish for even in dreams! Even though she was aware of the greatness of her call, she never claimed her worthiness for it. On the other hand, this made her all the more humble. She said: “The All Mighty one has done great things for me. He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness.” She credited everything to the greatness of God. Humility is the mark of a genuine spirituality because Jesus, the incarnated Spirit, humbled himself, took the place of a servant and even washed the feet of his disciples. Humility is not denial of one’s dignity but accepting one’s worth in relationship with God. It is walking with God. It is truthfulness. Humility means transparency. It is unmasked presence.
2. OTHER-CENTERED PRESENCE
There are three kinds of visions: I am for myself; others for myself and I am for others. A person who lives in Christ belongs to the third category because Jesus was totally a man for others. A God-oriented person has no problem in finding greatness outside of himself/herself. The first thing that came to the mind of Mary after she received the Spirit of God were the needs of Elizabeth. She was looking for help. Mary did not wait for her to call. Mary did not consider her position as a hindrance for doing something good. She did not keep her blessings for herself. Seeing Elizabeth’s needs, she stepped out of herself in haste and reached out to Elizabeth. We see the same attitude in all holy people. “If a man does not have something worth dying for he is not fit to live. A person’s highest life does not consist in self expression but in self sacrifice.” (Martin Lither King)
3. JOYFUL PRESENCE
Spirit filled people are joyful people. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit. Mary’s presence became a happy presence. Her arrival not only made Elizabeth happy but the child in her womb leaped with joy. According to St. Therese of Avila, a sad saint is a sorry saint. One thing we all do during this season is exchange gifts. Gifts are symbols of our inner joy. They communicate one’s care and support for the other. They ritualize our appreciation for one another. The best gift, however, is our own presence. Jesus’ presence was a comforting presence. People found rest in his presence. Does my presence brings joy or gloom to others?
4. TRANSFORMING PRESENCE
The visit of Mary not only brought joy to the family of Elizabeth but the presence of the Holy Spirit as well. It was an enriching presence. At the greetings of Mary, Elizabeth experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Mesmerized by the overwhelming outpouring of the Spirit, she said: “How does this happen to me that the mother of My Lord should come to me?” In Mary’s presence, Elizabeth saw God’s work in action. People who came to Jesus returned to their homes taking a new path. How does my presence make others better people?
CHALLENGES…!
In a few days we celebrate Christmas. If we approach Christmas just as a memorial of a historical event, this Christmas too will pass without touching our lives. This must be a personal celebration, a celebration of Christ’s birth in our lives. Jesus has already come into our lives at the time of our Baptism. Therefore, it is a time to awaken the presence of Christ in our lives. It is a time to begin once again living the life of Jesus in our lives by becoming humble, other-centered and joyful people. We must become another Mary. No one is great…no one is less….everybody is equal before the eyes of God. God can use any one of us to continue his saving presence as He used Judah, a tiny nation, to host his Son at his coming. We read in the second reading: “You, Bethlehem-Ephrata, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be a ruler in Israel.” On this final Sunday of Advent, let us say with Mary and Jesus: Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. I have come to do your will.”
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
“What should we do to welcome Jesus, the Messiah? What should we do?” Excited by the preaching of John the Baptist, people from different walks of life came to him and said. This was the last Sunday’s gospel reading. On this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, the Church raises another important question: What can happen to a person who comes under the influence of God? What are the fruits of spiritual living? The life of Mary is the perfect answer to this question. Hence, the Gospel story on this Sunday, focuses on the life of Mary. Mary made a fundamental option for God when she said ‘yes’ to the Angel. The result was the complete taking over of Mary by the Holy Spirit. She became all together a different person. God’s presence in Mary’s life found expression in four different ways. Anyone who surrenders one’s life to the will of God will manifest the same fruits.
1. HUMBLE PRESENCE
Mary became the Mother of God, a position no one can wish for even in dreams! Even though she was aware of the greatness of her call, she never claimed her worthiness for it. On the other hand, this made her all the more humble. She said: “The All Mighty one has done great things for me. He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness.” She credited everything to the greatness of God. Humility is the mark of a genuine spirituality because Jesus, the incarnated Spirit, humbled himself, took the place of a servant and even washed the feet of his disciples. Humility is not denial of one’s dignity but accepting one’s worth in relationship with God. It is walking with God. It is truthfulness. Humility means transparency. It is unmasked presence.
2. OTHER-CENTERED PRESENCE
There are three kinds of visions: I am for myself; others for myself and I am for others. A person who lives in Christ belongs to the third category because Jesus was totally a man for others. A God-oriented person has no problem in finding greatness outside of himself/herself. The first thing that came to the mind of Mary after she received the Spirit of God were the needs of Elizabeth. She was looking for help. Mary did not wait for her to call. Mary did not consider her position as a hindrance for doing something good. She did not keep her blessings for herself. Seeing Elizabeth’s needs, she stepped out of herself in haste and reached out to Elizabeth. We see the same attitude in all holy people. “If a man does not have something worth dying for he is not fit to live. A person’s highest life does not consist in self expression but in self sacrifice.” (Martin Lither King)
3. JOYFUL PRESENCE
Spirit filled people are joyful people. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit. Mary’s presence became a happy presence. Her arrival not only made Elizabeth happy but the child in her womb leaped with joy. According to St. Therese of Avila, a sad saint is a sorry saint. One thing we all do during this season is exchange gifts. Gifts are symbols of our inner joy. They communicate one’s care and support for the other. They ritualize our appreciation for one another. The best gift, however, is our own presence. Jesus’ presence was a comforting presence. People found rest in his presence. Does my presence brings joy or gloom to others?
4. TRANSFORMING PRESENCE
The visit of Mary not only brought joy to the family of Elizabeth but the presence of the Holy Spirit as well. It was an enriching presence. At the greetings of Mary, Elizabeth experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Mesmerized by the overwhelming outpouring of the Spirit, she said: “How does this happen to me that the mother of My Lord should come to me?” In Mary’s presence, Elizabeth saw God’s work in action. People who came to Jesus returned to their homes taking a new path. How does my presence make others better people?
CHALLENGES…!
In a few days we celebrate Christmas. If we approach Christmas just as a memorial of a historical event, this Christmas too will pass without touching our lives. This must be a personal celebration, a celebration of Christ’s birth in our lives. Jesus has already come into our lives at the time of our Baptism. Therefore, it is a time to awaken the presence of Christ in our lives. It is a time to begin once again living the life of Jesus in our lives by becoming humble, other-centered and joyful people. We must become another Mary. No one is great…no one is less….everybody is equal before the eyes of God. God can use any one of us to continue his saving presence as He used Judah, a tiny nation, to host his Son at his coming. We read in the second reading: “You, Bethlehem-Ephrata, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be a ruler in Israel.” On this final Sunday of Advent, let us say with Mary and Jesus: Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. I have come to do your will.”
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