As Advent draws us into the anticipation of Christ’s birth, the Gospel this week offers a profound glimpse into the joy and faith surrounding this sacred event. Mary, having received the angel’s message of her miraculous pregnancy, sets out with haste to visit her relative Elizabeth. This moment is more than a family reunion; it is a meeting filled with divine significance. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes Mary’s blessedness—not only because of her faith but because of the child she bears. The blessing comes from the presence of Jesus, the promised Messiah, growing within her.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, Elizabeth proclaims later in the passage. This blessing is not about Mary’s worthiness alone but about the transformative power of Christ. Mary is blessed because she believed in God’s promise, and the One she carries is the source of that blessing.
Advent reminds us that this same blessing is offered to us. To be blessed, as shown in this Gospel, is to welcome Jesus into our lives, to believe in His promises, and to live in the hope of His coming. It’s not about external circumstances or worldly achievements but about a heart open to the transformative presence of Christ. Just as Elizabeth and her unborn child leapt for joy in the presence of the Saviour, we too are invited to experience that joy and blessing when we encounter Jesus.
As we prepare to celebrate His birth, let us reflect on our faith. Do we, like Mary, trust in the promises of God? Do we, like Elizabeth, recognize the presence of Christ in our lives and in those around us? Advent is a time to rekindle our belief in the One who blesses us with peace, hope, and eternal life. May we approach Christmas with hearts ready to embrace the same blessedness that Mary and Elizabeth knew—blessedness that comes from knowing and believing in Jesus, the child born to save the world.
Fr Stephen Berecz
