The present of presence!

Luke 1:39-45

39 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, 40 straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and sang out exuberantly, You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed!  43 And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? 44 The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. 45 Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true!

Food for thought!

One thing that is associated with the celebration of Christmas everywhere is giving. Christmas is the feast of giving. Christmas is the one time in the year when everyone is sure to give and receive a present, even if be only a Christmas card. People spent a lot of time and money shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. We put up Christmas trees to surprise family members with our gifts and to be surprised with theirs. Santa Claus is the perfect symbol of Christmas because Santa is the one who gives and gives and never gets tired of giving. 

Christmas is a feast of giving even from God's point of view. For at Christmas we celebrate the mystery that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16). God gives, and the people of God give, and that is Christmas. No matter how well or how poorly our lives seem to be going, we can give; there is nobody that is too poor as not to afford to give anything; no body is too rich the s/he cannot get anything from anyone. We all need to give and get from each other.

In today's Gospel we read the story of Mary visiting with Elizabeth. What gift did Mary bring to Elizabeth? We are not told. We are only told that “She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth.” In other words, Mary’s gift to Elizabeth was not money, a card but HERSELF. She gave Elizabeth the gift of her very presence; THE PRESENT OF PRESENCE. And, I can tell you, this is the best gift of all. 

It is easy to send flowers, it is easy to send a parcel, but to give the gift of ourselves, to make out the time to be with somebody, that is the gift that many people long for but do not receive at Christmas.  Following Mary's example in today's Gospel story, we can, in addition to the flowers and parcels, give of ourselves, our presence, our time. We must find the time to visit and be with people. This is the greatest gift because its value cannot be calculated in terms of money. And all of us can afford it.

Do you know one thing everybody needs these days? It is encouragement. You need encouragement; I need encouragement. Elizabeth too needed encouragement; she was six months pregnant and would no longer be able to go and draw water from the village well, to look after the crops in her garden and the animals in her farm, she would no longer be able to go to the market to do her shopping. So Mary went with haste and stayed with her for about three months, meaning, until she gave birth. Mary gave to Elizabeth what she needed when she needed it. That is the perfect gift.

Mary's visit was an inspiration to Elizabeth. Mary made her sing exuberantly. When we visit people this Christmas, let us try to bring some inspiration into their lives, let us seek to bring them closer to God, and let us try to share with them the Spirit of God in us, the Spirit of consolation, of courage, of peace and joy, just as Mary did.

Remember this: When we merely try to hold on to what is given or entrusted to us, life may seem to take away even that. But when we choose to give what life has given us, the return of abundance can include friendship, companionship, financial blessings, homes, transportation, and security in wonderful ways. The universe holds nothing back from the one who lovingly and sincerely gives.