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Joy That Comes From Believing




Joy That Comes From Believing
Lk 1: 39 – 45
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Introduction
Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent and the last Sunday before Christmas day. The gospel today tells us of Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth who was with child.

The Gospel
The gospel today begins with Mary setting out and travelling to the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Mary has been told by the angel that her cousin who was now advanced in age was with child.
When Mary arrived at her cousin’s home, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy. And as Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, she greeted Mary with these words: “ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. “

Reflection
Of all the four gospels, it is only Luke who narrates Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. This unique narrative from Luke highlights to us one of Luke’s principal themes which is joy to those who believe.
First, it is important for us to know that Mary set out and travelled to Judea because she was told by the angel Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth was with child. She travelled because she believed what the angel told her. Belief and faith in God’s words are central to this gospel episode. Mary would not have set out and travelled had she not believed in God’s words uttered to her through an angel.
Secondly, Mary not only believed in what the angel told her about her cousin Elizabeth. She herself believed the angel’s message that she would bear a son, Jesus, the son of the most high.
In this reading, we see the fulfillment of God’s words in both Mary and Elizabeth. But more importantly, the reading tells us how they responded to God’s word. They both responded in faith, thus believing in what God has said and in what God has done in and through their lives. Mary’s and Elizabeth’s responses show us that faith indeed, is the most appropriate response to God’s words.
Thirdly, Luke speaks to us of what happens to people who accept and believe in God’s words. Luke tells us that joy becomes the natural outcome when people respond to God’s words with faith.
For Luke, accepting God’s words and believing in them brings us a tremendous amount of joy. Notice Elizabeth’s words: “Blessed are you among women, blessed is the fruit of your womb.” We read the word “ blessed” twice in a single sentence.
Blessed is synonymous to being happy. There is joy and happiness in one who is blessed. Luke wants to point out that faith and acceptance in the Lord’s words indeed bring much joy to one who believes.
In developing this theme of joy even further, Luke describes the movement of the child in Elizabeth’s womb as a movement of joy. Even the unborn child leaps for joy for the wondrous deed of the Lord.
Luke then caps this episode with a joyful note when Elizabeth says: “ Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Again the word “ blessed” is used to convey to the readers this element of joy, a joy that comes from believing.
It is now just a few days before Christmas. There is definitely joy and excitement in the air. But our reading tells us that true joy can come from one who believes in God’s words, in one who hopes in God’s words and in one who rejoices in God acting in and through one’s own life.

Prayer
Dear Lord, I feel happy now that Christmas is approaching. With all the gifts, all the greetings and all the beautiful Christmas decors around, I can’t help but feel happy during this season. But today you tell me that true joy really comes from believing in your words. Help me to believe in you so that I may experience true “blessedness” that only comes from you. Amen.


“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Rom 15: 13



For reflections like this go to my blog: thevineyardlaborer.blogspot.com

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