Pope urges imitation of Mary and Elizabeth in welcoming God in the needy

December 24, 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday invited Christians during Christmas season to go out and meet Christ in those in need. The Pope’s exhortation came in his reflection before his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with a large crowd of pilgrims and visitors in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. "Let us imitate Mary in the Christmas season, visiting those who are experiencing hardship, especially the sick, the imprisoned, the elderly and children,” the Pope said commenting on the Gospel of St. Luke on the 4^th Sunday of Advent, which speaks about the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth after the Annunciation. The Holy Father explained that the episode is not a simple act of courtesy, but very simply shows the meeting of the Ancient with the New Testament. The meeting between the two pregnant women shows the relationship between expectation and fulfilment. “Let us also imitate Elizabeth, who like God Himself, welcomes guests,” the Pope said, adding, “without desiring the Lord we will never know Him, without waiting for Him we will never meet Him, without seeking we will never find Him." “Where there is mutual acceptance, listening, making room for another, there is God and the joy that comes from Him," the Pope added.
The Pope explained that the elderly Elizabeth symbolizes Israel awaiting the Messiah, while the young Mary carries within her the fulfilment of this expectation, for the benefit of all mankind. During their meeting the two women recognize first of all the fruit of their wombs, John and Christ. The Christian poet Prudentius comments: "The child in the elderly womb greets content, through the mouth of his mother, the Lord Son of the Virgin". John's joy in Elizabeth's womb is the sign of fulfilment: God is going to visit his people. At the Annunciation the Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mary of Elizabeth's pregnancy as proof of God's power: infertility, despite advanced age, had become fertility. "
The 85-year old Pontiff explained the relationship between expectation and fulfilment, between the Old and New Testament, "Elizabeth, welcoming Mary, recognizes that she is bringing the promise of God to humanity, and exclaims:" "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? " “The expression" blessed are you among women" is first referred to in the Old Testament to Jael and Judith, two warrior women who are working to save Israel. Now it's addressed to Mary, a young peaceful girl who is about to give birth to the Saviour of the world. Likewise John's leap of joy of refers to the dance of King David when he accompanied the entrance of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. The Ark, which contained the tablets of the Law, the manna and the rod of Aaron, was a sign of God's presence among his people. The unborn John leaps for joy before Mary, Ark of the New Covenant, who is carrying Jesus, the Son of God made man" .