O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ~ A Reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent (C)

Mic 5:1-4a

Ps 80:2-3, 15-16-, 18-19 (4)

Heb 10:5-10

Lk 1:39-45

Today, we hear even more about the events and prophecies leading up to the birth of Jesus.  In Luke's Gospel, we discover what happened when Mary learns that her cousin Elizabeth is also expecting a child.  Childbirth in those days could be a perilous time for both the expectant mother and her child... and Elizabeth was a woman past her childbearing years.  Mary did not hesitate in going to assist her cousin...

Who can forget Elizabeth's dramatic response to Mary's greeting as the child leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb:  "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."  Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized that Mary carried the Messiah.

In the Old Testament reading from the prophet Micah, we are given more information about the coming birth of that Savior.  Bethlehem, a small town of little significance, will be the birthplace of this ruler in Israel.  But what kind of ruler will this Savior be?  We hear nothing of pomp and wealth.  Instead, Micah tells us that he will be a shepherd to his people and that "his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace."

As these final days of Advent wind down to the end, we look backward to this Advent's beginnings when we placed the names of those to be prayed for on our Jesse tree.  They will not be forgotten; for as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we will continue to hold these people in prayer in our hearts.



~ Image - The Visitation (detail) by Jacopo Pontormo