Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Raymun Festin SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
4th Sunday of Advent
One afternoon, some months ago, I dropped in our house for an unannounced visit. My mother was there; so was my three-year-old nephew playing in the living room. “Daddy is coming,” my nephew excitedly said to me after greeting me with a hug and a kiss.
I ignored what he said.
After half an hour the door bell rang. My nephew jumped up and roared in great transport of joy: “It’s Daddy!”
Yes, indeed, it was my brother.
My nephew ran to the door and flew to his father’s open arms.
I was quite surprised by my nephew’s certainty that it was his father. “How did he know that it’s you who rang?” I asked my brother. “Well, I told him I’d be coming home early to take him out for snacks,” my brother answered nonchalantly.
The incident might have been an ordinary occurrence in the close relationship between my brother and his son. But it struck me. I was impressed by nephew’s unalterable trust and confidence in the words and promise of his father.
My brother assured his son he’d come home early. My nephew believed in the promise. He waited for him in sure expectation. At the end, for his faith in his father’s promise, my nephew was bountifully rewarded with the joyful fulfillment of the pledge.
What trust and confidence!
In the Gospel today, Elizabeth after greeting Mary praises her saying, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Recall that most biblical characters in the Gospels, if not all, had doubted God’s promise and Jesus’ words and actions at one time or another. Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah, for example, doubted the Angel Gabriel’s message, for which he was subsequently rebuked by the heavenly messenger. All the disciples of Jesus are notorious for doubting, even if they are eyewitnesses to many of Jesus’ mighty deeds.
But there is only one person who shows deep and complete faith in God’s promise: the Blessed Mother. At the Annunciation, she believes the Angel’s message. At Cana, she believes in the divine power of her Son. And we are certain that on Mt.Calvary, she also believes in the Resurrection even in her darkest hour.
Throughout her life, Mary always puts her complete trust and confidence in God’s word. And how truly blessed she is!
The Lord Jesus Himself confirms this. One time a woman praises Jesus for being a great and cool person; and she extends her laudation to His mother telling Him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”
In response, Jesus indirectly and discreetly praises His Mother, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
