THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2023
THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B
Song of Solomon 2:8-14
Luke 1:39-45
RECOGNIZING JESUS AND EXPERIENCING JOY AND PEACE AT HIS PRESENCE
Elizabeth and Mary encountered themselves and there seems to be a drama that ensued in this encounter. Their discussion was no more normal, and their experience was over the worldly. They speak of sometime extraordinary and witnessed to experience that are strange to human. They both recognized and esteemed a third party in their midst. They knew and spoke of the presence and actions of Jesus in their midst. Jesus was at the centre of their meeting and discussion.
One would have taught that welcoming Mary into her home, Elizabeth would have been surprised at the visit of Mary and would have asked, how the journey was? How the weather and how tired she would have been travelling this long distance or how hungry she was after the long travels. But no, it was a totally new experience. They talked rather on the topic of their experience that overwhelmed them – the joy and happiness that overwhelmed their meeting because of this divine encounter.
Bringing Jesus into the home of Elizabeth was a great deal. It changed the cause of action. For Mary actually brought Jesus into Elizabeth’s home unknowingly. This sparked off the entire discussion and change the tune of that discussion. Jesus became the centre of the whole encounter.
We are called this season to recognize our task and mission as Christians of bringing Christ into homes, lives and situations of our world. For we are bearers of Christ. We carry Christ in our hearts, our souls and our bodies wherever we go and we share Christ to the world. We become ambassadors of Christ to our world. Do we make any impression when we encounter people? Do they recognize the Christ in us? Are we making any impression by sharing Christ to our world? Like Mary does it makes people marvel, rejoice, experience happiness when we encounter them in this journey of life?
Putting aside people’s impressions when we encounter them, are we equally grateful, impressed and joyful when we encounter people in life, when we visit them, call them or are in association with people?
Our reactions towards other people who come into our lives matter a lot. We must be able and ready to receive and recognize the presence of Christ in other people.
This season of advent and Christmas calls us to reflect and understand that Christ lives in every soul who is a Christian, in every house which is dedicated to him and in all we see in our world. Christ is already born into our world and we carry him around and yet we never see, feel or recognize his presence among us, talk less of relieving such experience as Elizabeth and Mary did.
We are therefore called to be more conscious of the presence of Jesus as we encounter ourselves and to reverence the presence and actions of Christ in our midst.
Heavenly Father, in sending your Son Jesus Christ, he came to stay with us, to live among us and to dwell in our lives. Help us to recognize him as Elizabeth did when Mary visited her. May we relish this experience as we encounter people in our lives. May we adore Christ in our midst, praise and worship him, reverence and welcome Christ in others, and help and support Christ in the poor, weak and disadvantaged. May Christ also living in others give us joy, peace and happiness of Soul as we encounter them through the same Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
