Blessed Are You Among Women
Br. Peter Lawrence Vu, O.P., reflects on the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Lk 1:39-45) in our weekly video series.
In the Gospel of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we encounter the second Joyful Mystery, the Visitation. This moment is rich with theological and spiritual significance, centered on the profound joy that springs from the recognition of God’s presence.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. At Mary’s greeting, the unborn John leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb—a moment that signifies his prophetic recognition of the Messiah.
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, responds with an outpouring of joy, exclaiming, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This joy then is far more than a mere emotional reaction; it is a spiritual acknowledgment of God’s fulfillment of His promises.
Mary, whose joy radiates through her Magnificat, celebrates the mighty works of God and the gift of bearing His Son. Her visit to Elizabeth becomes an act of sharing this joy, a reflection of her obedience to God’s will and her role in bringing Christ to others. The joy of the Visitation serves as an invitation and calling for us as Catholics.
Just as Mary and Elizabeth shared in the joy of Christ’s coming, we as Catholics are also called to embrace and share the joy of salvation. True joy comes from recognizing and being in communion with Christ. The Visitation serves as a model for how we are to experience and spread this joy—first by recognizing Christ’s presence in our lives and then by sharing that joy with others.
