In the fourth week of Advent, we celebrate the authentic encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, seeking to welcome one another with that same grace and respect.
With John the Baptist and Mary as our guides, we can rejoice—not because our troubles have come to an end, but because we see the nativity of Jesus on the horizon.
Despite the personal, political, and institutional disappointments of the year, Advent gives us a time to lift our heads and seek new life in unexpected places.