Fourth Sunday Advent Year C

Sunday Text : Lk 1:39-45 : The Visitation

[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,

[40] and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.

[41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

[42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

[43] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

[44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.

[45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

Up to now our Advent scripture journey has focused on John the Baptist. As we draw closer to Christmas, the Church puts the figure of Mary before us. John was the voice in the wilderness that pointed out Jesus but it was Mary who actually gave us Jesus. In today’s Gospel, we see Mary at work as a missionary, almost unconsciously bringing Jesus to people. The angel Gabriel had told her that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant and Mary sets off in haste to visit and help her cousin, “in haste” means no time wasted. It shows she believed Gabriel.
Mary’s journey was about 100 miles (140 kilometres?) and would take about 4 days on foot. Today the place of the visitation is considered to be Ain Karim about 5 miles south of Jerusalem. When Mary enters the house and greets Elizabeth strange and wonderful things happen ...

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