THE JOY OF ENCOUNTER
Introduction
Few things, if any, are more beautiful on the human and the divine level than the encounter between persons. An encounter is a great joy and grace. The first reading speaks of the encounter between a suitor and the young woman he loves; this is probably an image of the love between God and Israel. In the gospel, Elizabeth encounters Mary; even the unborn John the Baptist encounters the Savior and his mother. Deeper than meetings between people in business, science, politics, or their jobs, are the understanding, love and sharing of real human encounters. This is the kind of encounter that awaits us with the Lord on Christmas and in this Eucharist. Encounters are even deeper when God is present in them.
Opening Prayer
God, we tend to lose ourselves in the bustle and stir of the day, in our work and our petty worries. Give us the freshness of heart to look for the things that matter, those that make our lives deeply human and at the same time, open us to your world and to your values. Make us long to encounter you with joy, that we may discover again the quality of gratuitous giving, of respect, and of carefree self-forgetting love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading: Song of Songs 2:8-14
Hark! my lover – here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! “For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! “O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.”
Responsorial Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. Sing to him a new song; pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness. R.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations. Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. R.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield, For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust. R.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia. O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God! R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
Mary set out in those days 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, “Most 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.”
Commentary
What we carry in our hearts are shown on our faces and words
After the annunciation to Mary by Angel Gabriel, she takes up a commitment to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is already six-months pregnant. Gospel says Mary remained with her for about three months before returning home – perhaps until the birth of John the Baptist.
The visit of the Angel of God brought Mary blessings and happiness and the Holy Spirit of God. God the Son was conceived in her womb. And now Mary returns the favour by visiting Elizabeth. What does Mary bring to Elizabeth? She brings her the same gifts that she had received from God: Happiness and the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth noticed it right away: “As soon as your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.” Remember, during the annunciation, the angel had promised Mary: “the Holy Spirit will come up on you…” And now, when Mary visits Elizabeth, she transmits the same Holy Spirit to her. Today’s Gospel tells us that Elizabeth “was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Important things are transmitted like a contagion. Like faith, trust, love, hope … What we carry in our hearts are shown on our faces and words.
During her visit to Elizabeth, Mary also receives something in return. She receives the confirmation of the path that she has begun: Elizabeth gives two important confirmation when she says: “Blessed are you who have believed …”. and “why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me?” confirming Mary that she is the Mother of the Lord.
The visits of God are both a gift and a task. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we too are loved and chosen for a mission. That mission puts us on the path to visit others, who might be in need of our words of encouragement, words of comfort and appreciation and also in need of our patient listening. When we give, we receive new gifts.
In this Christmas, worsened by the Coronavirus global pandemic, visiting our friends and family may not be a possibility, and Christmas parties and exchange of gifts may not be a good idea. But then, find time to call up your family members who are away from you, and also greet the elderly neighbour or a friend who is ill, inquire of their well-being in this time of isolation and financial struggles. Share time, talent and treasure with those in need of them most.
Intercessions
– That the deeper coming of Christ to us on Christmas fill us all with gratitude and joy, we pray:
– That God may give us the gift of having many friends, we pray:
– That we may learn to appreciate people and rejoice in their gifts and talents, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, loving Father, in this Eucharist you encounter us again through your Son, Jesus Christ. In these signs of bread and wine, may we really meet him from person to person. Let him set our hearts afire with his Spirit, that we give up our self-made securities and dare with him to become your people and your world in him the Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
God, our Father, we have encountered your Son in his word and his body. Let him go with us now to speak through us your word of courage and lasting hope and to make us his body to the world, that every encounter among people may from now on become a blessing and a grace and a joy, and a commitment to one another and to you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
The coming of Christ has brought joy to the world. With him, there is hope. No more room for sadness and fear! Even the cross can lead to joy! May Almighty God make you people of joy and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!