God Calls Us to Do Things Outside of Our Comfort Zone
Fr Leonard E Dollentas
Gospel Reflection – Luke 1:39‐45
4th Sunday in Advent (December 22, 2024)
The gospel narrates one of the more touching moments in the Christmas narrative after Mary, pregnant with the baby Jesus, journeys to visit her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth. The visitation implies that Mary — having just been told by Gabriel that her cousin is also a blessed recipient of a miracle — wanted to stay to provide understanding to her elderly relative until she’d had time to come to terms with what was happening to herself, but mostly she went to show her comforting presence to her cousin in need.
From Nazareth in Galilee, where Mary lived, to Ain Karem, about five miles west of Jerusalem, where Elizabeth lived, was about ninety miles, more than a tough four-day journey on foot. The roads and paths were full of landslides, rocks, cloudbursts, brooks without bridges, holes, snakes, scorpions, and robbers — and, of course, there were no hotels. Mary showed her unselfishness not only by quickly facing that trip with eagerness to be of help. She was also willing to stay in the background, loyal to God’s wishes, obediently accepting all the uncertainties without asking why.
Mary’s tremendous act of love and concern is the antithesis of a story from the Brothers Grimm. It tells us of a feeble old woman whose husband died and left her all alone. She went to live with her son and his wife and their little daughter. Every day the old woman’s sight dimmed, and her hearing grew worse, and sometimes at dinner her hands trembled so badly the peas rolled off her spoon or the soup ran from her cup. The son and his wife were annoyed and one day, after she knocked over a glass of milk, they told each other enough was enough. They set up a small table for her in the corner next to the broom closet and made the old woman eat her meals there. She sat all alone, looking with tear-filled eyes across the room at the others. Sometimes they spoke to her while they ate, but usually it was to scold her for dropping a bowl or a fork. One evening just before dinner, their little daughter was busy playing on the floor with her building blocks, and her father asked her what she was making. “I’m building a little table for you and mother,” she smiled innocently, “so you can eat by yourselves in the corner someday when I get big. “Her parents sat staring at her for some time and they suddenly both began to cry. That night they led the old woman back to her place at the big table. From then on, she ate with the rest of the family.
The persons in today’s liturgy show that God often surprises the obedient with what He will do. If we follow their example, we can show our worthiness of God’s coming to us in Christ at Christmas by arising from our sloth and becoming, like Micah, Mary, and Elizabeth, and Joseph teach in our different ways as they were different in theirs, God—bearers in our world that needs God so much.
Mary was likely not alone, another person with a big heart joined her to show support. While the Gospel only mentions Mary, it makes sense that Joseph would have ensured the safety of his betrothed. According to writer J. A. Loarte, “Most likely it was Joseph who arranged the trip, looking for a caravan in which the Blessed Virgin could travel safely. He himself may have accompanied her, at least as far as Jerusalem; some commentators even think he went with Mary right to Ain Karim, which is only five miles from the capital. If so, he would have needed to return immediately to his workshop in Nazareth.”
Christmas provides many opportunities to reach out to others. One of the ways we are made in God’s image is to love others and, when we do, we have a sense of wellbeing and significance. People are also more open to receiving God’s love through us during the Christmas season. Whether they acknowledge God the rest of the year, they can’t deny His love for them during this time of year. Around Macao, street corners, grocery stores even in the malls and shopping areas proclaim God’s incarnate love at Christmastime. Some of our family’s fondest memories are remembered when we have been able to give to others during Christmas. It could have been feeding the hungry, participating in the food banks, visiting the nursing home, or maybe shopping for the needy neighbors.
Perhaps this Christmas we can show our care by giving our time and money to Caritas Macau. Participate in a clothing/coat/blanket drive or have your own. Take cards and flowers to a nursing home or elderly centers. For parents with small children, help your kids save and earn money to support life promotion programs of the Diocese.
Like Mary, God calls us to do things outside of our comfort zone, even at the risk of taking an unpopular stand for faith that results in being ridiculed, insulted, or worse, being killed. Mary willingly accepted her participation in God’s plan and, even more, rejoiced at it. This is exactly what we should do when God asks us to do something to fulfill his plan.
Follow
