ADVENT
A Season of Promise

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Fourth Week of Advent

Read Luke 1:39-56

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I
heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

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This fourth week of Advent is pregnant with promise! All through Advent we have participated in the universal longing for completion: for an end to suffering and violence; for an end to injustice and vulnerability; for an end to brokenness and tears; for an end to separation from God. We have joined the universal longing for salvation, for shalom, for wholeness. Now, in this fourth week of Advent, the universal becomes particular. We gaze now at a one small child, in whom the
fullness of God is pleased to dwell.

Mary’s song is that of a woman anticipating birth, and she sings of the reign that is to come through her child. There is perhaps no more eloquent description of the great reversal the God will bring about when Christ comes. The gospel is an embodied reality. Mary sets forth a vision of the world as it was created to be. That vision is embodied in Jesus Christ, now carried in the womb of Mary.

We, too, become God-bearers, for Christ dwells in us. How might the presence of God be made known in our lives? When looking at our lives – what we do and how we do it; what we think and what we say – do others see the presence of Christ?
Do they experience God’s shalom and completeness? How is it that you bear Christ to those around you?

Light the first, second, third and fourth candles on the Advent Wreath.

Prayer:

O God,
you continually surprise us with your grace.
The ways you work in the world are a mystery to us.
This Advent season,
open our eyes to see your salvation.
And with Mary and Elizabeth,
may we proclaim your salvation with joy,
may we bear your presence to all we meet.
Through Jesus Christ,
the coming one. Amen.

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Updated December 2, 2009