21. Fourth Sunday of Advent

Meditations no. 21 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Mary’s example: moved by charity, she goes to help Elizabeth.

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah. Our Mother shows surprising speed in going to the assistance of her cousin Elizabeth. Mary has just received God’s message: she has been chosen to be the Mother of God, and the eternal Word has taken flesh in her virginal womb. But the Archangel has more to say: God’s mercy has also rested upon Elizabeth, who is expecting a child. Without a moment’s hesitation, Mary sets out to go and see her.

St Ambrose comments: The angel has made known a mystery, and to enlighten our faith he shows how God can do whatever he pleases. He tells the Virgin Mary that an elderly woman, long barren, has conceived. On hearing it, Mary sets out immediately, not because she lacks faith, or because she doubts, or because she needs confirmation of what has been announced to her. Rather she hurries to the hill country eager to be of service, so full of joy is she at the news.

Our Blessed Lady goes quickly to render a service which is not even asked of her. Her action is not a hasty one, but is a prompt and decisive response to God’s inspiration. Our Mother forgets about herself; her only concern is to arrive as soon as possible and help Elizabeth. For that’s what explains Mary’s life - her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our Mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the ordinary circumstances in which God wants us to live.

True charity always acts in this way. It is always on the lookout for new opportunities for self-giving. It leads us to go out of our way to help others in an effective way, without being concerned about our own interests. If we are to love, we must have a big heart and share the concerns of those around us. We must be able to forgive and understand; we must sacrifice ourselves, with Jesus Christ, for all souls. If we love with the heart of Christ, we shall learn to serve.

Serving others: charity shown by deeds, overcoming possible obstacles.

A strong, operative love prompts Mary to hurry to Elizabeth’s side. Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Our Mother shows heroic charity, first in the way she sets out promptly, and then by undertaking a long, difficult journey through the mountains. As St Ambrose points out, Mary was not put off by the rugged mountains or by the length of the journey.

We would not be practising charity as we should, if we were content simply to have inner feelings of benevolence towards others. Love is shown by deeds. We must set out to help others effectively, whatever the obstacles. At times we may have to suffer misunderstanding. But very often the problems we encounter are of our own making, because of our moods, our love of comfort, our selfishness, and so on. These are the mountains we must climb, crossing them with determination. Our charity must reach the point of denying ourselves so as to serve others out of love for God.

It may even happen that the very people we seek to help reject our assistance. God met with such a rebuff from his Chosen People, but he continued to pour out his affection on them. We should do likewise, if we ever run up against such an attitude. Taking Jesus as our model, we try to avoid seeking thanks for what we do. We are not looking for a human reward for our services; we are not giving simply to receive something in return. We realize once again what Christianity is all about. If a Christian does not love with deeds, he has failed as a Christian, besides failing as a person. You cannot think of others, our Father writes, as if they were digits, or rungs on a ladder on which you can rise, or a multitude to be harangued or humiliated, praised or despised, according to circumstances. Be mindful of what others are - and first of all those who are at your side: children of God, with all the dignity that marvellous title entails.

When we purify our intention, many obstacles to charity, especially those that spring from self-love, simply vanish away. What we have to do is to love others generously, unstintingly, as Jesus and Mary did. We should also remember that if we hold a certain position, or we are older, or we have been in the Work for longer, then far from being excused we are even more obliged to serve. For we should notice, as St Ambrose points out, that the greater comes to the assistance of the lesser. Mary comes to Elizabeth; and Christ himself comes to John.

Service, which is charity, needs to be ordered: our supernatural family comes first.

Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. Our Mother’s thoughtful visit to her cousin also reflects the order of charity. Our love is universal, since everyone is or can be a child of God and a brother or sister of ours. But in the first place we should love those who are nearest to us and who are united to us in a special way.

So that our zeal may become the charity of Christ, our Father teaches us, it must be orderly: first come your brothers or sisters, my children - those who form part of our supernatural family. This is the basic duty of each of my children, and very particularly, the duty of the Directors and priests. And the first manifestation of our zeal is to make the path to sanctity lovable for others.

This order of charity must be reflected in deeds, not only in feelings of affection. Our Lady was not content simply to go and greet her cousin, nor to remain a few days with her. She stayed for as long as she could be useful. During the months she spent with Elizabeth, we can imagine all the help she would have given her. How many opportunities she would have had to show her affection! Our Father insists: We have to behave as God’s children toward all God’s sons and daughters. Our love has to be a dedicated love, practised every day and made up of a thousand little details of understanding, hidden sacrifice and unnoticed self-giving. This is the aroma of Christ that made those who lived among our first brothers in the faith exclaim: See how they love one another!

Let us think now about our family life and of the thousands of opportunities it provides us with to practise a spirit of charity and service in a very natural way. You will be holy if you are charitable, if you do what pleases the others, even though if you find it hard. Really love each other, our Father tells us. May nobody ever feel alone: each of you should be concerned about those around you, to try and make their lives -God’s way on earth - pleasanter. This may seem difficult - as sanctity itself, whose essence is charity, is difficult. But love makes everything easy, lovable and joyful. Don’t be afraid to love one another as members of the same family. Love one another truly. If you let this love, this charity of Christ, guide you, you will persevere and be faithful on earth… If you love one another, if there is this affection - this sensitive, considerate charity of Christ - you will be able to rely on one another for help, and the one who was about to fall will find support and encouragement to be faithful.

With Christmas just around the corner, we can make the practical resolution of really looking after this virtue of charity in our dealings with one another, and of trying to have the same spirit of service as Mary, our Mother, had.