Just over a year ago I led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and our last site to visit was the Church of the Visitation where Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. It seemed like an odd place to finish our pilgrimage as we had just finished visiting the holy sites of Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built at the site of Jesus’s crucifixion and tomb. Yet as we went to the “hill country of Judea” as the evangelist Luke describes it, it became clear why it was a fitting end to our pilgrimage.
The Church of the Visitation is on the top of a long steep hill, and it was an arduous climb for us, even the fittest of us. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for Mary pregnant with Jesus. When she arrived the gospel tells us that Elizabeth greets her with great joy and tells how the infant in her womb (John the Baptist) leapt for joy at the sound of her voice—an indication that even in the womb John knew the presence of the Lord. There she stayed three months to help her elderly cousin with her pregnancy. Like Mary, we are called to visit each other and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all. Sometimes we bring the message of the gospel explicitly by works of charity and talking about Jesus and the gospel. But most often we bring it implicitly by simply visiting people and showing them that we love them.
Government officials tell us that over 120 million people in the USA will travel by road or air in the next few days to visit relatives for Christmas. Wow! That is over 35% of the population on the move! What an incredible gift of family commitment. Maybe you are one of them or perhaps someone in your family is coming to visit you. What a great joy to be with family for Christmas!
I wonder if we can take the example of Mary and Elizabeth’s exchange and greet each other with great excitement and let our hearts jump for joy at the sound and sight of our family and friends when we see them. Perhaps we can take the gospel message implicitly to others this Christmas by the way we visit them. Can we see the child Jesus in each other and greet each other with joy in our hearts and smiles on our faces? This is an opportunity to bring the gospel message to others through our smile, kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness.
Now, I am not naive to believe that every family visit is going to be a great harmonious reunion. I understand how family gatherings can be! I came from a family of 12 children and when we got together in small or large gatherings, there was always some drama! But the reality is that for the most part, the negative interactions or drama only accounts for 5% or less of our time. That does not make it okay, but could we embrace the 95% of the goodness of family time and not allow the 5% to drive our emotional or mental reaction. Can we choose to see Christ in each other?
We have all learnt through the covid pandemic how important connecting with others really is for our souls. It is not just a social thing—it is a soul connection that makes us human. Over the last year you have heard me talk about the difference a smile can make when meeting people when walking or on the streets or in Church. Even more so, a smile and warm greeting for a family member who has traveled long hours to get to you or you to them can make a huge difference. It is often the first reaction we experience that we remember the most, whether that be a smile or a frown—so let’s make it a smile to everyone. It will be good for your soul and their soul.
For those of you who have guests visiting with you, I ask you to invite them to come to Church with you on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and bring your smile with you! However, please don’t harangue them or guilt them into coming to Church, even if they are your adult children or grandchildren. Invite—yes. Encourage—yes. If they accept, great. If not, we will pray with you for them. God has them in the palm of hand and will care for them.
If you are traveling to see your family or friends, travel safely and then accept an invitation to go to Church with those you are visiting and don’t forget to bring your smile with you. May the Christ child within you leap for joy at the sound of your loved one’s voices as you celebrate the Christmas message of God’s love for all of us.
Ultimately, the message of Christmas is that God loves us so much that he became one of us in the Christ child. He did not come in palaces or high places, but he came as a baby boy born in a manger with no room in the inn. He came as one of the poor in need of visitors who cared and loved him. He still comes among us today in the poor and rich, in the illegal immigrant and citizen, in the well-fed and the hungry, in the housed and the unhoused, in the black, white, yellow, or brown skinned, in the straight or LBGTQ, in the family, friend or stranger. Jesus comes again in you and me and in every stranger and friend alike. May we recognize the voice of Christ and welcome him once again.
Merry Christmas to you and all your family from all the staff of the parish and school.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan