Joy to Be Shared

One of the best parts of my week is on Thursday mornings, when I stand in the vestibule and greet our schoolchildren as they leave the sanctuary after our school Mass. I love it because often one or more of them are practically bursting to share something about what’s going on in their world — in their classroom, in their family, et cetera. There’s something joyful about seeing others filled with joy.

In the Gospel we just heard, Mary journeys to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She does so following the announcement of the angel Gabriel that she would become the Mother of God. It was news that had surprised and amazed her, but also must have filled her with great joy, a joy that she would have wanted to share as soon as possible. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth out of charity, wanting to help her older cousin with her pregnancy. But we can also imagine how much she would have desired to share with her the joy of her secret, what what the angel Gabriel had told her would soon happen for her.

Of course, the amazing thing in today’s story is that Mary doesn’t have to share it. Her joy, and the reason for her joy, was so evident that Elizabeth immediately knew the full story; as she says, the child in her womb, whom we know as John the Baptist, leapt for joy at the presence of Mary and her greeting. What Elizabeth understands is that Mary is not just full of joy, full of grace, but also filled with the very presence of God – the Lord Jesus whom she carried inside her. Mary is the first evangelist, the first bearer of the Good News, literally bringing the presence of God to those who were in need.

The Visitation, Anonymous (16th cent.)

In these final days of Advent, the Church gives us these two women as a model for how we are to be as well. We too must be like Elizabeth, who rejoiced at the Good News that a Savior was to be born for us, and who shared in the joy of that news even before his appearing. Often our world can feel very dark and gloomy, and the news that fills our headlines, and even the situations and realities of our own lives can leave us troubled and searching for reasons to hope. But the Good News is that there is a Savior present among us, and although we may not see him visibly, we can like Elizabeth discern his nearness with eyes of faith and through the power of grace. The darkness is not so dark when we perceive the Light.

Even more, we are also called to be like Mary. She had the unique privilege of bearing the Son of God in her very body. But we too can be – and indeed, are called to be – God-bearers, bringing the presence of Christ to all whom we encounter. By means of the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist, we receive sanctifying grace, which means not only Jesus, but the Father and the Holy Spirit as well – the Triune God – dwells in our souls. And this gift is not just for ourselves, not just to console us, and give us reason to hope, but also that we too can be evangelists, sharing the Good News of Him who was born for us, to save us. It is with that knowledge, with his Presence, that we go into the darkness and gloominess of the world, not to be overcome by it but to bear the light of Christ into it.

Friends, let’s each of us think this week about who we can share the Lord’s joy with. Who needs to hear from us the Good News? Into what situation or reality is the Lord calling us to be his missionary, his evangelist? May our joy always be so evident that others may discern in us the Presence of the very God who became Man, the Savior born of Mary.