Haste to Give out our Presence
Christmas Reflection
Scripture:
Micah 5:2-5,
Hebrews 10:5-10,
Luke 1:39-45.
Dear sisters and brothers,
Giving is always connected with the celebration of Christmas everywhere in the world.
In other words, Christmas is the feast of giving.
Christmas comes once in a year.
But, giving is part and parcel of everyone.
We may share gifts.
At least, we may send greetings.
People spend a lot of time for shopping.
People buy the perfect Christmas gift.
We surprise our family members with our gifts.
Santa Claus is the perfect symbol of Christmas for giving in the modern world.
Santa is the one who gives.
Santa never gets tired of giving.
Christmas is a feast of giving.
Saint John categorically writes:
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
God gave himself as Incarnate Word in the manger.
We celebrate the mystery of God’s love at Christmas.
God gives…
…and the people of God give,
…and that is Christmas.
Hence, Christmas is the feast of giving.
The question is:
What do we give as a gift?
How do we give?
How does it become very important during this Christmas?
How can we improve on the quality of our giving?
How can we improve on the quality of our Christmas celebration during this pandemic Christmas?
Today’s Gospel reading helps us to answer these questions.
Let us listen to the Gospel reading according to Saint Luke (Luke 1:39-45):
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
In today’s Gospel, we read the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth.
1. Giving Out
Now a days, it is easy for us to send the gifts or give gifts to other.
We use digital shopping for giving gifts.
We are familiar with e-commerce.
We can give gifts or send gifts through so many e-commerce companies.
What gift did Mary give to Elizabeth in the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth?
She did not bring any things.
We read that she brought just one thing: herself.
She gave Elizabeth the gift of her very presence.
Dear sisters and brothers,
This is the best gift one can give to those we love and care.
We read in Saint John that Jesus Christ gave himself for us:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”” (John 10:10-11)
It is also the hardest gift of all the gifts.
Again we read in Saint Mark:
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
It is easy to send flowers.
It is easy to send chocolates.
It is easy to send parcels.
However, giving the gift of ourselves and taking out the time to be with somebody, is the gift that many people long for but do not receive at Christmas.
Mary anticipates the message of Christmas in her life.
We give gifts.
It is a normal practice.
It is to value the occasion that you are invited for.
Yes, dear sisters and brothers,
We give to others costly things.
But, we do not give ourselves.
We do not give our presence.
We do not give our time.
In addition to the flowers, chocolates and parcels, as a follower of Jesus and imitating Mary’s example:
We must give of ourselves,
We must give our presence,
We must give our time.
We must find the time to call someone.
We must find the time to message someone.
We must find the time to visit and be with people.
It is said: ‘We give a part of our lives when we give our time.’
The presence is the greatest gift.
Because it has no value in terms of money.
Nevertheless, it has a huge value in terms of relationship.
And Mary valued the relationship with Elizabeth with her presence and with her time.
2. In Haste
In the second point, we reflect that Mary’s gift to Elizabeth is according to her needs.
Our gift should not be according to one’s convenience.
But, it should be the need of the receiver.
It was not convenient for Mary to travel the lonely, dangerous road from Galilee to the hills of Judea.
It was certainly for her an uphill task.
But, Elizabeth needed a helping hand.
How?
Elizabeth was six months pregnant.
Only women can understand when I say that Elizabeth was six months pregnant.
Mary, as a pregnant woman, understands Elizabeth.
Mary knew that Elizabeth would no longer be able to go and draw water from the village well.
Mary knew that Elizabeth would no longer be able to look after the crops in her garden.
Mary knew that Elizabeth would no longer be able to take care of the animals in her farm.
Mary knew that Elizabeth would no longer be able to go to the market to do her shopping.
Therefore, Mary, as soon as she learned that Elizabeth was six months pregnant, went with haste and stayed with her for about three months, meaning, until Elizabeth gave birth.
Mary gave to Elizabeth what Elizabeth needed and when Elizabeth needed it.
That is the perfect gift.
And this gift was not in waiting…but in haste given to Elizabeth.
We have a question:
How was this possible for Mary?
3. Joyful Presence of God
Do you know one thing what everyone needs today?
Everyone needs joy in their life.
Everybody needs the interior peace, joy and love that comes from the Holy Spirit.
This is what Mary’s visit did for Elizabeth.
Mary’s visit was an inspiration to Elizabeth.
Mary received the God’s promise.
God was in her womb.
Mary experienced God personally.
In other words, Mary encountered God through Gabriel.
Mary gave herself as a gift.
Mary reached in haste to give that gift.
And this gift was peaceful, joyful and filled with love.
Because, Mary experienced God through Gabriel and Mary had God with her in her womb.
We have a message during this Christmas when we visit people:
May we experience God personally in the manger during this Christmas,
May we carry God in and through our lives,
May we inspire others like Mary to Elizabeth,
May we seek to bring all, those who are in need, marginalized, downtrodden, poor, closer to God like Mary did with Elizabeth giving her presence as a gift,
May we try to share with them the Spirit of God in us,
May we share the Spirit of consolation,
May we share the Spirit of courage,
May we share the Spirit of peace,
May we share the Spirit of joy, and
May we share the Spirit of love.
Just as Mary did…
After all what is worth is ‘giving’…giving one’s presence with joy in haste.
Yes, something very simple to do and yet seems difficult at times…
May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all…Amen.
