Reading
**Luke 1:39 - 45: The Risk of Encounter**
**I. Mary's Haste to Visit Elizabeth**
Why is Mary in such a hurry to visit Elizabeth? At first glance, one might think it is to support or help her relative. However, considering the context of the Gospel of Luke, a different reason emerges. The angel of God offered Mary a sign by pointing to Elizabeth, who was in her sixth month of pregnancy. This was significant because Elizabeth was previously considered "barren" (cf. Luke 1:36). Mary's haste, then, is seen as a joyful anticipation of witnessing the announced divine sign. It appears that the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth is a dramatic device used by Luke in the narrative of the childhood story. But is it just dramaturgy, or is there more to it?
**II. Encounter Stories in the First Two Chapters of Luke's Gospel**
On the narrative level of the first two chapters of Luke's Gospel, there are several encounter stories.
1. The angel Gabriel meets Zechariah in the temple to announce the birth of John.
2. Later, Gabriel comes to Mary.
3. Mary visits Elizabeth (which was seen in a positive light in the past).
4. In a few days, we will hear how the shepherds find the divine child in the stable, and then Simeon and Hannah encounter the longed - for divine savior in the temple.
**III. God's Will in Human Encounters**
God wants to meet with humans and is experienced where human encounters are successful. In today's Gospel, two women, Mary and Elizabeth, both carry new life within them. They do not keep this wonderful event to themselves but give praise back to God. By withdrawing their own egos and being unpretentious, a free space is created for successful encounters and new things to emerge. Elizabeth "hears" and "feels" how she is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the child in her womb leaps for joy. This openness allows her to truly meet Mary, and the encounter leads to something beyond the physical event.
**IV. Mary's Openness**
In this short scene, we hear little from Mary apart from the Magnificat, where she praises God exuberantly. The fact that she sets out on her journey, and hurries in anticipation of the promised sign, shows that she is open and ready not only to physically come to Elizabeth but also to be with her in a way that makes Elizabeth feel comfortable. This is how real encounters become possible.
**V. Obstacles to Encounter**
Sometimes, others remain "outside the door" because we are occupied by our schedules, worries, wishes, prejudices, and fixed judgments. These things often seem indispensable to us, but they can prevent real encounters.
**VI. The Encounter between Elizabeth and Mary and the Experience of Salvation**
When pregnant Elizabeth met pregnant Mary, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. The living space was created within both women, and there was a connection of divine life in the two unborn children. This encounter leads to an experience of salvation. When we create living space within ourselves, the experience of salvation becomes possible in everyday life.
**VII. The Connection to Christmas**
The connection between the above - mentioned ideas and Christmas is that Christmas is the celebration of God's encounter with us in the person of Jesus. God opens up, trusts us, gets involved with us, believes in us, and becomes one of us. When we accept this and get involved with this friendly God, the encounter with him will be successful and become an experience of salvation.
**VIII. The Risk of Meeting**
God and humankind can come together if both take the risk of meeting. God dares to take this step, which we will celebrate in a few days. If we are ready for it, a never - ending celebration will occur, and God's closeness will be experienced in our human encounters. God's spirit will come forward as the peace that connects everything.
**Wishing you a blessed Christmas**
Joseph Lam, PP
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