4th Sunday of Advent – 2025

Fourth Sunday of Advent — We See God in Each Other

Luke 1:39-58

As Advent draws us toward the mystery of Christmas, we return to the story of Mary and Elizabeth—two women meeting on the threshold of world-changing news. Mary arrives at Elizabeth’s home carrying fear, wonder, and a promise she can barely comprehend. Elizabeth greets her not with suspicion or judgment, but with blessing, joy, and a Spirit-filled recognition of how God is already at work in Mary’s life.

In this tender moment, these two cousins become spiritual midwives for one another. They hold each other in courage. They recognize the divine in each other. And from that deep solidarity, Mary bursts into her hymn of praise—the Magnificat—a revolutionary song proclaiming a God who lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry, and topples unjust power.

From generation to generation, this story invites us to see how God meets us in our relationships—how the people who greet us during life’s threshold moments can anchor us, steady us, and help us cross into what comes next. It reminds us that we discover God not only in scripture and sacrament, but also in the faces, voices, and companionship of those who walk with us.

This week we reflect on the people who have stood beside us in seasons of transition… the ones who showed up with courage when ours was thin… the ones who saw God’s image in us before we could see it in ourselves. And we consider how we, too, are called to show up—perhaps as spiritual surrogates, companions, or midwives—for someone else.

Mary’s song continues to echo across history as a rallying cry for justice, liberation, and hope. It comforts us, unsettles us, and nudges us toward a world shaped by God’s love rather than human fear.

May we hear it again this Advent.
May we see God in one another.
And may that recognition reshape how we live, love, and move through the world.

Kids + Families Adaptation

This week in Advent we hear the story of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Mary had big news—she was going to have a baby!—and she wasn’t sure what would happen next. But when she got to Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth welcomed her with such joy that even the baby in her tummy jumped for happiness!

Mary felt safe, loved, and understood. She wasn’t alone anymore. And because Elizabeth was so kind and brave with her, Mary found her voice and sang a beautiful song about how God cares for everyone—especially people who are hurting or left out.

Mary and Elizabeth remind us that:
• God shows up through people who love us.
• We can help each other feel brave.
• We can look for God in every person we meet.

As we get closer to Christmas, we remember that showing kindness, welcoming others, and cheering each other on are some of the best ways to help God’s love grow in the world.