Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C) - 22 December 2024
22nd December 2024
“Elizabeth says: ‘Blessed are you because you have believed.’ You also are blessed because you have heard and believed. A soul that believes, both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges His works.” - St Ambrose of Milan
A reflection on today's Gospel by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"It is rightly assumed that no one may more justly claim immunity from service to others than a woman bearing a child. If one adds to this, noblesse oblige, the fact that this Woman bears within herself the very Lord of the Universe, then of all creatures she might rightfully claim dispensation from social bonds and duties to neighbour. Women in that condition come not to minister but to be ministered unto.
"Here we have the spectacle of the greatest of all women becoming the servant of others. Not standing on her dignity saying, ‘I am the Mother of God,’ but recognising the need of her aged cousin, this pregnant Queen, instead of awaiting her hour in isolation as other women, makes a five-day journey over hill country, and with such a consciousness of spiritual fellowship that she does it, in the language of Sacred Scripture, ‘with haste’ (Luke 1:39).
"Thirty-three years before Calvary, Mary recognises that her mission is to bring her Lord to humanity; and with such a holy impatience is she filled that she begins it before her Son has seen the light of day. I love to think of her on this journey as the first Christian Nurse whose service to neighbour is inseparable from bringing Christ into the life of her patient.
"There is no record of the exact words that Mary spoke. The Evangelist merely tells us that she saluted Elizabeth. But notice that just as soon as she saluted her cousin, new relationships were immediately established. Elizabeth no longer addresses her as cousin. She says, ‘Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’
"Mary is now not just a relative, or another mother of another child. She is called the ‘Mother of God!’ But that was not the end of the relationship. Elizabeth’s own child in her womb, who was to be called later by the Child in Mary’s womb ‘the greatest man ever born of woman,’ now stirs in his mother’s womb; we might almost say he danced to his birth in salutation to the King of Kings! Two unborn children establish a relationship before either had swung open the portals of flesh.
"Notice how much Our Blessed Lady is made the link of bringing Christ to humanity. First of all, it was through her as a Gate of Heaven that He walked into the earth. It was in her as a Mirror of Justice that He first saw with human eyes the reflection of the world He had made. It is in her as a kind of living ciborium that He is carried to the First Communion rail of her cousin’s home, where an unborn babe salutes Him as the Host Who is to be the Guest of the World.
"If you have never before prayed to Mary, do so now. Can you not see that if Christ Himself willed to be physically formed in her for nine months and then be spiritually formed by her for thirty years, it is to her that we must go to learn how to have Christ formed in us? Only she who raised Christ can raise a Christian."
(Seven Words of Jesus and Mary)
Peace Candle
The fourth candle of Advent represents Peace and is called the “Angel’s Candle.” The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace. He came to bring people close to God and to each other again. It reminds us of the importance of peace as the true Saviour of the world is coming. This candle is also purple to represent the culmination of love through the Messiah.
Prayer for the Fourth Week of Advent
Heavenly Father, the hour has nearly arrived! Assist us in keeping our preparations for the arrival of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Please accept our humble efforts to prepare as a sign of our sincerity and gratitude to You, from Whom all good things come. Let it be done according to Thy will! Amen. 💐💖🙏
An Advent Prayer
O Lord, incline Your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our hearts by the light of Your visitation. Almighty God, fulfill our desire and kindle our hearts by Your Spirit, that being filled with the oil of Your grace, we may shine as bright lights at the coming of Your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 💐💖🙏