Preparation – expectation – visit.

So how are we prepared for the visit of baby Jesus? How have you progressed with your preparations for Christmas? …. What am I talking about? We are experiencing the last Sunday of Advent. Her relative Elizabeth, guided by the Holy Spirit, says about her: “And blessed is she who believed that what the Lord had told her would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45).

The Latin word advent (arrival) undoubtedly also includes the word visitation, which simply means “visit”. This event was beautifully described in a letter by Saint Bishop Ambrose. He says: When the angel announced the mysterious event to the Virgin Mary, he demonstrated his credibility with the example that an old and barren woman conceived a child, and thus he wanted to assure Mary that God can do whatever He wants. As soon as Mary heard this, she hurried to the mountainous region. “As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child in her womb trembled, and the Holy Spirit filled her.” (Luke 1:41). Elizabeth first heard the voice, but John first felt the grace and trembled for joy at the great mystery; she perceives Mary’s coming, he perceives the Lord’s. Through mothers, the great secrets of love begin. The child trembled, and the mother was filled with the Holy Spirit. Although in the womb of his old mother, John is the first to recognize the Lord and trembles with joy. When John trembled, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth, filled with this spirit, cried out prophetically, “… blessed is she who believed that what the Lord told her would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45). And the child she is expecting is “the Lord” (Kyrios) and Mary are therefore “Mother of my Lord”.

The term “visiting” has lost its joyful meaning in our understanding. Although it may be difficult for us, we should still try to understand such days in this way: The Lord interrupted my activity for a while to bring me to silence. As Jesus belonged and belongs to all people, so we should also belong to them. So we don’t live for ourselves, but also for our neighbor and for the world in which God has placed us. What is my attitude to the life situation, the expected visit, my neighbor, and God himself?

And so we can pray together: “Lord, let every person have Mary’s soul to glorify you; let everyone have Mary’s spirit to rejoice in God! We beg you, protect us from sin, and let every immaculate soul receive God’s Word. Let every such soul be able to glorify you, as Mary’s soul glorified you and her spirit rejoiced in God the Savior.