Last year, the well-known National Geographic magazine published a cover picture and a story that caught the eye of many. The special issue in time for Christmas was entitled: "Mary - The most powerful woman in the world". Surprisingly this was a story not on geography or science but on faith. Mary, the mother of Jesus is labeled "the most powerful woman in the world." That is an extraordinary claim on the part of a magazine more concerned with science and nature than biography.

As usual, the article is filled with beautiful and moving photos of people and places. It takes us around the world to well-known places concerned with confirmed Marian apparitions like: Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Kibeho in Africa and others. The main focus of the article I found very moving. The journalist describes the effect of Marian belief on people and culture and allows the reader to make up their own mind as to its value. For those of us in the Catholic/Orthodox world we find such writings on Mary comforting and inspiring. For our other Christian brothers and sisters of various traditions it may be a bit of a stretch. Yet, those of the Muslim faith honor Mary greatly as her name of "Maryam", the article states, "appears more often in the Koran than the name Mary does in the Bible."

However, there is no doubt that this simple woman from Nazareth continues to make a significant difference in the lives of many. Her power is not one of politics or the military. Her power is one of obedience, humility, and faith.

On this Sunday of our Advent journey, the Gospel takes us to the scene of the visitation between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. It is an encounter of great joy. Mary, after being visited by the Angel Gabriel with his mysterious request, travels south for several days no doubt, to see her much older cousin Elizabeth after hearing that she in her "old age" has conceived a child for the first time. When they greet each other, the scene is filled with praise and joy to recognize what God has done for them. Elizabeth rejoices as she addresses Mary: "Blessed are you among women" then refers to her young cousin as the "mother of my Lord." It certainly does shine a bright light on this simple young maiden from a tiny obscure village in the north of Israel. It does indeed make her the privileged woman among all others.

But, this moment is more than just a meeting of two ancient persons who would have never been known if it were not for their choice by God. As we draw close to Christmas it reminds us of the mystery of God's work in sending his Son among us.

First, God chose to do this. He didn't have to do it. That being said, being the Creator of all things he could have chosen to come anyway he would like to. He chose to come in smallness. Not through great and influential people in the large and dominant Empires of the ancient world. He chose a different course; that of the simple and obscure. Instead of Jerusalem or Rome he came to an unknown girl in the tiny village of Nazareth.

Second, he could have come as an adult in great splendor. Instead, he came in silence as an unborn child. What is more silent or defenseless or sacred than an unborn child? He chose to enter human history at a specific time and place as privately as any of us did.

Third, he came to the ancient world through women who at the time were considered to be powerless and hardly influential in a significant way. So, this is a God who entered our lives in a fully human way through a simple mother who became, because of her cooperation with God's strange request, "blessed among women." So, the power which Mary has is the willingness to submit her will to a much greater force.

Finally, he came not to judge or condemn or destroy which would be an obvious misuse of power. He came to invite, to heal and to forgive. To gather back together what was scattered and broken. All of this was made possible through the "yes" of this simple girl named Mary. She isn't just a footnote or an afterthought or a temporary biological means to become a human being.

The bottom line is that Mary stands during this Advent season as a direct link of how God freely chose to come among us - as one like ourselves. She is a maternal image for all of us and directly leads us to her Son. This coming Christmas season, we recognize his place as center in our lives in our daily walk, in the Eucharist we share and in his word but as a family, God has given us a mother who is a model for every Christian disciple.

The Geographic article has an interesting insight when it quotes a student of theology named Maria Garcia who wrote: "Mary brings us to Jesus, who is the light of the world, just as Jewish mothers light the Shabbat candles. 'We see the relationship of Mary with us isn't just any relationship - it's sacred.'"

Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may be his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

(Collect of Sunday)

By Father Barry O'Toole, LC

Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary´s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

Introductory Prayer:

Lord, you know the reality of my life and how much I need your grace. I believe that you love me and desire the best for me. I, too, want to respond to your love, and thus, with humility, I ask for your sanctifying grace. As I contemplate the wonders you worked in Mary's and Elizabeth's lives, I desire to imitate their attitudes and convictions, so that you will be able to transform my life.

Petition:

Lord, make me an instrument of your grace and peace.

Right to the Doorstep:

After receiving God's messenger into her life, Mary then becomes God's messenger to her cousin Elizabeth. In such a short time Mary has learned so much from her Son. She delivers Christ right to Elizabeth's doorstep and knocks. Without Elizabeth's consent, Mary can go no farther. Elizabeth comprehends in an instant that this is more than a courtesy visit. Her child, John the Baptist, helps her to understand as he leaps for joy upon hearing Mary's voice and perceiving Christ's presence. Elizabeth allows them to enter her house, and Mary and Jesus begin to transform this family's life. John and Elizabeth are filled with the Holy Spirit, and Elizabeth immediately becomes an apostle and prophet of God.

The Cooperation of Man and God:

Mary is always willing to help because she is so humble. Despite the fact that she is also pregnant, she doesn't hesitate to perform small acts of charity and help with the ordinary chores around the house. However, Mary was also an instrument of the Holy Spirit as she went about her work, and, as with Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit was able to touch the hearts of others and to bring about their transformation by instilling sanctifying grace. Have I achieved a degree of holiness that I might also become an effective instrument of God for those around me?

The Spontaneous Magnificat:

The presence of God in Mary's and Elizabeth's souls can be seen in two ways. First, they both glorify God for the marvelous things he is doing in their lives: Elizabeth praises Mary for having brought the Savior into her life and for filling her child with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. Mary, in turn, praises God in the beautiful prayer of the Magnificat. Second, both Elizabeth and Mary become the first witnesses of the arrival of the Messiah. Every true encounter with Christ necessarily leads us to become his apostles. Have I, too, encountered Christ through prayer, the sacraments and service to my neighbor? Have I helped others to experience God's loving presence in their lives?

Conversation with Christ:

Lord, during this time of prayer, I want to enter into a deeper relationship with you. I want to experience your loving presence in the daily activities of my life. As Christmas Day approaches, I want to grow in my love for you. I want to share this love with others by imitating your meekness and humility. Please, do not pass by me this Christmas without granting me at least this grace. Transform this plea, the supplication of this beggar, into the treasure of a benefactor for others.

Resolution:

Today, I will strive to share my experience of God with at least one person I meet.

by Dr. Scott Hahn

Readings:

Micah 5:1-4
Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
Hebrews 5:5-10

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

On this Sunday before Christmas, the Church's Liturgy reveals the true identity of our Redeemer:

He is, as today's First Reading says, the "ruler...whose origin is from...ancient times." He will come from Bethlehem, where David was born of Jesse the Ephrathite and anointed king (see Ruth 4:11-17; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 17:1; Matthew 2:6).

God promised that an heir of David would reign on his throne forever (see 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalm 89; Psalm 132:11-12).

Jesus is that heir, the One the prophets promised would restore the scattered tribes of Israel into a new kingdom (see Isaiah 9:5-6; Ezekiel 34:23-25,30; 37:35). He is "the shepherd of Israel," sung of in today's Psalm. From His throne in heaven, He has "come to save us."

Today's Epistle tells us that He is both the Son of David and the only "begotten" Son of God, come "in the flesh" (see also Psalm 2:7). He is also our "high priest," from the mold of the mysterious Melchisedek, "priest of God Most High," who blessed Abraham at the dawn of salvation history (see Psalm 110:4; Genesis 14:18-20).

All this is recognized by John when he leaps for joy in his mother's womb. Elizabeth, too, is filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. She recognizes that in Mary "the mother of my Lord" has come to her. We hear in her words another echo of the Psalm quoted in today's Epistle (see Psalm 2:7). Elizabeth blesses Mary for her faith that God's Word would be fulfilled in her.

by Bill Randles

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
( Luke 1:39-45)

A young Galilean virgin had just been told by an Angel, that she would bear the "Seed of the woman", who would one day "Crush the serpent's head", and be the Savior of the whole world. Her virgin born son would be the Son of God, and would sit on the throne of David to rule forever.

There would be one person who would possibly be able to understand this mystery in part, for the same Angel made mention of Mary's cousin, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, who had long since passed her child-bearing age, had conceived a child and was now six months pregnant. Her Husband, the Priest Zechariah, had some kind of an experience in his Priestly service which rendered him unable to make the Priestly Blessing at the climax of the service. For these long six months, Zechariah remained dumb.

As soon as Mary entered the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the babe in Elizabeth's womb, kept for joy, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon Mary, flowing out through the gift of Prophecy.

"Blessed are you among woman…"

This was the same blessing that the prophetess Deborah conferred upon the woman Jael, in Judges 5, after Jael drove a tent peg through the temple of Sisera, a vicious enemy of Israel.

Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead. (Judges 5:24-27)

Like Jael, Mary is Blessed above women, for she would bear the "Seed of the woman" who would crush head of the ultimate enemy of Israel, Satan himself.

Blessed is the fruit of thy womb…

Her son would be the one, born of a woman and not of a man, man's blessed redeemer.

How is it that the Mother of My Lord should visit me…?

By the Spirit of the LORD, Elizabeth called Mary the mother of her Lord. It was the baby in her womb, who pointed this out to her, already fulfilling the task he was called to, that is pointing people to Jesus as LORD and Saviour!

Blessed is She who Believes, for there shall be a performance of those things… from the LORD…

Like Abraham, Sarah, and so many other of God's faithful through the Ages, Mary's belief in a miracle baby , sent to save us, from heaven, would be rewarded.

Then the Spirit of Prophecy fell upon Mary herself,

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior…

Mary's inner man, her soul has been focused upon the LORD and her Spirit rejoices in God, her Savior!

Mary knew and confessed that she was a sinner, that she needed God, and His salvation. As a true believer and pious Jew, she waited for His salvation to come in due time. Now, the time had come!

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Mary didn't consider herself to be some kind of divine or semi divine being.She would have abhorred as Pagan all talk of Theotokos, or Queen of heaven, or anyone praying "Hail Mary"…Mary knew she was nothing, a sinner, a lowly handmaiden of the LORD, and that it is "HE who is mighty" who has done great things to her.

This prophecy is similar to the Prophecy of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, when Samuel was born in answer to a prayer that went far beyond a woman's desperate request for a son, for Hannah's prayer initiated an entire reversal of the decline of Israel.

Mary is an observant Jew, and would hold an intensely Monotheistic Creed and worship. Holy is His name, and his name alone!

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name…

In the Spirit of Prophecy, she marvels at who God is, what God has done what God does, and who He does it for. Ultimately , it is in the coming of Jesus into this world, that the nature and character of God is fully revealed.

Who is this Holy God and what is He like?

She praises his power and might. What awesome power is revealed, that God should become a babe, and enter into his own creation? What an entirely different view of what power really is! That God should become a babe.

Why does he thus display his power? To bring us salvation. This is what it took to save us, God had to become a man, He condescended to us, and regarded our "Low estate".

Why did God have to save us this way?

Because as Mary prophesied, "Holy is His name".

Because God is Holy He had to make a Holy way to save us. Someone had to suffer for sin. Jesus is God, become a man, to come down to us and take our place in judgment.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation…

Salvation is due to the mercy of God. He is a God who pities lost sinners and weak, fallen humanity. That mercy took him from heaven to earth, from glory to humiliation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; …

In the advent of Jesus, God reveals His power to His congregation, He is an active God, and not indifferent to the plight of His people.

…he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts…

But it is not power as conventionally understood. The proud cannot see in the babe in the manger, the power of God, even as Peter couldn't see power, in the prospect of Jesus , the Messiah, dying at the hands of his enemies on the cross.

He destroys the Wisdom of the wise, and brings to nothing the understanding of the wise in this world, he scatters those united in Pride, and of all of those who rely on their own ample resources, and see no need of God.

In the coming of the Holy Child, everything the worldly think about power, wisdom, righteousness, and truth is exposed as false, shallow and corrupt, in the light of God.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree...

God demotes and God elevates. In Jesus, the hierarchies of this world are set on their head. The Last shall be first, and the first last, the humble shall be exalted and the proud made low. Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted, and the proud be made low.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away…

He feeds only the hungry, and cures only the sick… the self sufficient and proud are sent away empty. Those "Rich" and "Learned" cannot see the gospel, He hides it from them, to reveal it unto babes. One has to duck to enter into the place where Jesus was born, as well as to see the empty tomb, that he was interred in.

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever…

God has not forgotten His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to bless every family in the world through the "seed of Abraham". The word for "Helped" is the same as the word, "Succor", he has run to the aid of Israel, or better, he has "lifted up his Servant Israel".