Wednesday of the
Fourth Week of Advent
(Song of Songs 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45)
Often the Virgin Mary is portrayed as carrying Jesus in
her womb. In the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
for example, the black belt around the Virgin’s waist signals her pregnancy. Such images indicate not only that Mary is
the mother of Jesus but also that she is his apostle bringing him to
others. Today’s gospel conveys this
double meaning.
Acting on God’s word, Mary visits her kinswoman Elizabeth
in the hill country. Having arrived, the
child within her womb causes the more developed child in Elizabeth to
stir. Elizabeth, guided by the Holy
Spirit, names what is taking place. She praises
Mary first for being the mother of God and then for believing in the unlikely
message of the angel. Mary will explain
what Jesus’ birth will mean to the world in tomorrow’s gospel passage.
We do well to emphasize that Mary’s significance is more
than she is the mother of Jesus as important as that role is. She is also his first and most perfect
disciple. She listens to and accepts the
word of God. She acts on it as she visits
Elizabeth. Finally, she interprets its
meaning for others. The best way we can
venerate Mary is by imitating her example.
