Newsletter — Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C – 22nd December 2024

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‘For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the
babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that
there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’

On this last Sunday before Christmas, our Gospel reading prepares us for the birth of Christ by showing us how Jesus was recognised as Israel’s long awaited Messiah even before his birth. Luke links the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, establishing John’s early connection with the Messiah.

In Luke’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit helps reveal Jesus’ identity as God to those who believe. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and sings Mary’s praises because she is carrying the Lord. We sing these words of praise to Mary in the Hail Mary. Even John the Baptist, the unborn child in Elizabeth’s womb, is said
to recognize the presence of the Lord and leaps for joy.

It is appropriate in this season of Advent that we reflect on Mary’s role in God’s plan of salvation. Elizabeth describes Mary as the first disciple, the one who believed that God’s word to her would be fulfilled. Mary’s faith enabled her to recognize the work of God in her people’s history and in her own life.
Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to everyone. Because of this, Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God’s plan for salvation.

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