Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the fourth Sunday of Advent 12/19/21. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, please click here to make a donation.
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sunday 12/19/21
Readings: Mi 5:1-4a, Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, Heb 10:5-10, Lk 1:39-45
Luke 1:39-45 - American Standard Version
39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; 42 and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? 44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that [a]believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.
Friends, today’s Gospel reading is the story of St. Mary visiting her relative Elizabeth who is also pregnant. Mary carries the Savior, while Elizabeth carries the St. John the Baptist, and when Mary arrives, the unborn baby John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb.
Isn’t this a quaint story? Sure, of course it is. It’s just the kind of story people love to tell, especially expectant mothers. You can just imagine this story being retold by Mary and Elizabeth, and by all of their girlfriends. “Did you hear what happened when Mary visited Elizabeth? Don’t you know, as soon as she came into the room, baby John started kicking like crazy! Isn’t that something?”
But rest assured, brothers and sisters, this is more than a charming tale meant to warm our hearts. Is it okay for it to be that? Yes, certainly it is. But like every story in the Bible there are deeper levels at which this story can be read and interpreted. And one of those ways touches each and every one of us.
Because we all carry within us hidden potentials that are waiting to be born. These can be literal children, of course, but they can also be projects, ideas, businesses, speeches, conversations, donations and good works, and so on. We also have the potential to give birth to bad things, negative things, unhealthy things. But if we are like Elizabeth and the baby John inside her – if we allow ourselves to be open and receptive to the presence of Jesus Christ – to what beautiful and miraculous things might we give birth? If we allow our hearts to leap, and kick and stir, and we if we dare to bring into the world potentials that resonate with Jesus Christ, how wondrous that would be!
Don’t forget, brothers and sisters, that Elizabeth was up in years, and so was her husband Zechariah. But, by the grace of God, she conceived a son despite being past her prime. Have you given up on your hopes and dreams of a greater life in Christ? Have you despaired on giving birth to something great? I implore you my friends to let Jesus in! Let the things that are unborn in you leap for joy at the approach of Jesus Christ, and bring them into the world!
You don’t have to rock the world – you don’t have to raise a million dollars for charity or quit your job and go overseas on a mission, although those things are great if that’s what you have stirring inside you. Anything dream or goal can be done in Christ, to the glory of God the Father, and with the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Remember always that it is in God that we live, and move, and have our being; therefore, all things may be done in Christ. And as long as there is breath in your body, through him, and with him and in him, all good things are possible.