“Deepening our resolve to live a ‘life of sharing'”

(Based on Mic 5:1-4a, Heb 10:5-10 and Lk 1:39-45 – 4th Sunday of Advent)

There was a little boy, who wanted to meet God.

He guessed that the trip would be very long, so he packed his bag with a lot of chocolates, cookies and his favourite mango juice as well.
He started his journey and walked for a long time – even in the hot, blazing sun.

Finally, he got tired and found a park to rest.

In the park, he met an old woman…
… sitting all by herself, just staring at some pigeons.

The boy, tired and famished, sat down next to her and opened his bag.
He was about to open his favourite drink when he noticed that the old woman looked hungry.
So he offered her a cookie.

She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.
Her smile was so pretty, that the boy wanted to see it again.

So he offered her the mango juice as well.
Once again, she gratefully accepted it, and smiled at him.
The boy was delighted!
They sat there, the whole afternoon – eating and smiling – without saying a word.

Finally, as it grew dark, the boy realized he was too late, and had to rush back home.
As he got up to leave, and had taken a few steps, he turned…
… ran back and gave the woman a loving hug.

When the boy reached the house, his mother was surprised at the deep joy that the child radiated, and asked the reason for it.

The boy answered, “I had lunch with God!”
And before the mother could say anything, the boy added: “You know what?

She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman also filled with happiness, reached her house, and was asked by her son, the reason for it.

The old woman answered, “I had lunch with God”
And before the son could say anything, the woman added: “You know what?

He’s much younger than I expected!”

“Sharing” became the wonderful platform, for the two of them
– the young boy and the old woman – to experience joy, with the essence of Divinity.

Yes, “sharing” is a quality, which is a reflection of the Divine “self-giving” and “self-emptying”

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful recounting of the “joy in sharing” – through the encounter of Mary and Elizabeth.

Mary, after having received the surprising and confounding message from Angel Gabriel, to be the Mother of the Son of God, doesn’t remain captivated or captured in heavenly bliss.
… Instead, She sets out, “with haste” to the town of Judah, to the house of Her cousin, Elizabeth (Cf. Lk 1:39)

Heaven had revealed to Her the good news of Divine Favour; but, Mary doesn’t swell up in pride

Instead, She sets out, in service and humility

Divine Joy and Grace makes Mary to imitate the quality of the Child within Her: To share!

And this act of sharing by Mary, caused Elizabeth, Her cousin, to rejoice and the child, John, to “leap for joy!” (Cf. Lk 1:44)

Elizabeth testifies to this fact when she exclaimed in a loud voice, “For behold, when the voice of Your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44)

St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church makes a beautiful observation on this incident of the Visitation:

“Elizabeth is the first to hear Mary’s voice…
… but John is the first to be aware of grace. >> She hears with the ears of the body…
.. but he leaps for joy at the meaning of the mystery.
She is aware of Mary’s presence…
… but he is aware of the Lord’s
A woman aware of a woman’s presence…
… the forerunner aware of the pledge of our salvation.

The women speak of the grace they have received…
… while the Children are active in secret
… unfolding the mystery of love

Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit after conceiving John…
… while Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit before conceiving the Lord.”

Like Elizabeth, all of us will also be blessed when we believe and share God’s Good News…
… because “a soul that believes, both conceives and brings forth, the Word of God and acknowledges His works!”

This therefore, is an essential dimension of Christian Life: Sharing!

Just as Christ shared…
… by emptying of His glory, and becoming one like us, in all things, except sin
… by being part of our human experiences and being a model to live a perfect life
… by taking up pain and suffering to redeem humanity from the clutches of sin
… by giving Himself entirely, with love and deep affection, in the Holy Eucharist

Just as Mother Mary shared…
… by offering Herself in service to Elizabeth in Her need
… by becoming a model to us, by living a life in total obedience to God’s Will
… by offering Herself to God’s Providence and letting Herself be the Mother of all humanity

We too are invited, exhorted and challenged to live a “Life of Sharing!”

Our Christian lives must…
… cause us to share our resources and abilities in the service of the family and community we are in
… make us share our time with those in need – especially for encouragement and consolation
… cause us to share our knowledge and experience to bring more people to faith in Christ
… make us share our little acts of charity and share in the redeeming act of Christ

When we share our life with the ones in need…
… we experience joy and satisfaction

When we share of our self – time, love, material things or anything – to those in want…
… we experience happiness and contentment.

The world today is much thirsty to receive love and extremely hungry to receive care.

Each Christian is expected and invited to imitate Christ and help others to experience Divine Love.

Mother Mary is our model towards this.
She made choices to grow in imitation of Her Son and helped others to experience Divine Joy

As the words of St Teresa of Avila remind us… “Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours!

Yours are the eyes with which He looks with compassion on this world
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world”

Let us deepen our resolve to live a “life of sharing”…
… especially as we approach the Nativity of Christ

So that each of our actions may become an expression of Divine Experience for the other!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

Seeking the truth in what concerns God and His Church does not contradict a “sincere respect” for different religions which frequently “reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men,”…

… nor the requirement of charity, which urges Christians “to treat with love, prudence and patience those who are in error or ignorance with regard to the faith. (CCC # 2104)