Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C, 2015

Published: December 20, 2015

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor preached the following homily at St. Theresa Church and during a Mass with Diocese of Little Rock seminarians at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, both in Little Rock on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015.

Bishop Taylor

Whenever we have something special to share with someone, we visit them in person if at all possible. Big things and little things, happy things and sad things.

Big things: How did you tell your parents that you had decided to get married? You had them sit down and you told them the exciting news. Maybe only to discover that they already saw it coming. Or news of a serious illness: You took the person aside and told them in person.

We even do this with small things. We call up a friend and say, "Hey, let's get together for coffee, I've got something I want to tell you." And in every case there is anticipation, emotional preparation and response, which ideally leads to support and understanding.

In today's Gospel Mary has something special to share with Elizabeth. Big news in both of their lives. She's really excited, so she goes "in haste" to the hill country of Judah, to Elizabeth's home — a long journey, especially for a young, pregnant girl.

Then we have the emotional response of Elizabeth. She's really excited to see Mary. Even the baby leaps in her womb! And then they share each other's news. Mary's annunciation and Elizabeth's pregnancy. They share their fears and excitement. They give each other support and understanding.

Christmas is approaching, a time when families get together to share with each other. They share big things and little things, happy things and sad things. They share the joy of being together as a family. Seeing each other after times apart. Catching up on things, seeing how the children have grown.

They also share the sadness of remembering family members who have died and will not be with us this year. Or others who couldn't make it. We feel the loss. We share small things: the presents, the gifts that express our love. We may sing songs together or even wait up for Santa Claus. But in so doing, we should remember to share also the biggest thing of all: our faith.

We express our faith in the Advent and Christmas Masses, in the celebration of posadas, in the nativity scenes we set up and in our Christmas cards. We express our faith in our prayers, especially before the Christmas meal. We express our faith in all the gestures of love we extend to family and friends — the real reason for Christmas!

Christmas will be here in just a few days. Already we feel much anticipation. We are preparing ourselves emotionally, decorating the house, making special foods, wrapping presents, going to posadas.

In a couple of days our families will be gathered to share in the excitement. My prayer is that this will be a time of real support and understanding for all of us. As the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb for joy, so also may all of us be blessed who believe that the Lord's words to us will be fulfilled.