4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT HOMILY – YEAR C 2024
VISITATION OF MARY AND ELIZABETH – JOYFUL ANTICIPATION OF BIRTHS
Lk 2.39-45 Micah 5.1-4 Heb 10.5-10
This past week has been overshadowed by the deaths of 2 great Australian creative thinkers and writers, John Marsden and Michael Leunig, the latter famous for his cartoons and calendars, which many of us have on our walls. Whilst perhaps not overtly religious in a traditional sense, both had deep insights into human nature and the human condition. Nor does that mean we would agree with them on every issue, but they certainly contributed to making us think for ourselves, and ask questions about the world around us.
Marsden wrote a powerful poem, titled “Prayer for the 21st Century” around 2000, expressing hope for future peace and harmony on planet Earth, protection of the environment, respect for each other and appreciating the wonder of life, and with a word about scientists working for the betterment of humanity. Sadly, in many ways, his hopes expressed have been dashed by the ongoing conflicts which have erupted in the world since then, along with the degradation of the environment.
One of Leunig’s classic cartoons was one where he had a person fixated on watching an outdoor scene on a TV inside a room with a big window where the same scene was visible if one looked out the window. He was making the point that we need to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the natural world around us, rather than just look at filtered images.
He was controversial about working mothers, critical of them leaving their babies in child care, but without thinking of their right to find balance in parenting and work. Then he took an anti-vaccination stance, once again not allowing for consideration of the common good of all in society.
At the same time, he often took up religious themes, particularly related to Jesus and his message. In fact, then Jesuit theologian John Honner compiled a book, lining up theological quotations with Leunig cartoons, titled “Michael Leunig and Karl Rahner: A Common Philosophy”!! And I quote him on taking a journey: “Let it go. Let it out. Let it all unravel. Let it free and it can be a path on which to travel” (from his “Short Notes from the Long History of happiness.”), as he reflects on the journey of life theme.
So now, scripturally, it’s time for Mary and Elizabeth to move into the spotlight, after John the Baptist has done his bit, in preparing the way and pointing to Jesus as the one to hear and follow. Mary’s ‘Fiat’ or ‘Let it Be’ is the opener to this new phase of salvation history, as she accepts the mystery and moves forward on a journey into the unknown, but overshadowed by God’s Spirit. Now, given the role of John as precursor to Jesus, the two expectant mothers come together to share their joy of anticipation, but uncertainty too, not knowing what the future might bring with the births of their children. Underlying it all is the faith dimension, where they willingly accept their roles as agents for the future, guided by their trust in God of life and love.
With all the divine intervention, we also have a very human down-to-earth story of mothers, looking forward to the births of their children, with young Mary offering support and help to the older Elizabeth, as they share their experience together.
In fact, at this very moment, my niece Liz is in hospital awaiting the birth of her first child, already named Charlie, so I am anticipating good news very soon!!
Scripture scholar Raymond Brown suggests: “The Visitation… can be seen as an epilogue to the Annunciation to Mary; for she is fulfilling with haste the first duty of discipleship by sharing the Gospel with others”, in this case Elizabeth. Then this scene is followed by Luke’s prayer of Mary, the lovely Magnificat, wherein she praises God for his goodness to her, and looks forward to the inversion of priorities and expectations, where the poor will be raised up, the downtrodden freed and God’s Spirit reigning over the human situation. The high and mighty and powerful and the wealthy will be brought down to earth, and all will be well. We might say, easier said than done, but it expresses the priorities of a Saviour who comes to transform the earth by his presence in word and action.
Worth a mention too is the emphasis of Luke on joy, one of the fruits of the Spirit described by Paul in Galatians. From a faith perspective, Sylvester O’Flynn OFM says: “To believe is to know in the heart the sustaining, healing and forgiving love of God in the sacraments. Believing is knowing intimacy with God, whose Spirit is given to us. True joy is in the ocean depth of the soul. Its equanimity is preserved beneath the agitations and storms on the daily surface of life… The Lord is near… That’s the reason for Advent joy.”
So we work at being joyful people, giving thanks for the good things in our lives, rather than sinking into negativity and focussing on what has gone wrong. And now we move into Christmas, with a sense of joy and peace in our hearts and minds.
john hannon (Summer solstice – 14hrs 47minutes of daylight!) 22nd December 2024
And I add a footnote about Father Len Thomas, who died at 89 this week as well, another good story teller, whose short autobiography is titled ‘Free to be Priest’, written in 2005, where he reflects on the joy and fulfilment he found in priestly ministry, in parishes and later with those suffering serious mental illness, and with whom he had the capacity to be very much at home, empathetically listening to their stories and encouraging them. As he put it: “Very often people free me to be priest. To listen, To feel the pain. To hear the need of the moment. I’ve learnt to wait and listen, To be invited. And to be welcoming. The trick is to focus on the ability not the disability.” Rest in peace, good and faithful pastor and servant, Len.