Mary Had a Good Time with Elizabeth in Her Home—Christmas Is Sharing Time.

As we enter the final days of Advent, the Church invites us to slow down, to listen more deeply, and to notice how God prepares the world for Christmas—not through noise or spectacle, but through relationships, generosity, and shared time. Today’s theme is beautifully simple and deeply challenging. Mary had a good time with Elizabeth in her home; Christmas is sharing time. In the first reading, Hannah brings her long-awaited child, Samuel, to the temple and offers him back to the Lord. This is not an act of loss, but of love. Hannah does not cling to the gift; she shares it. She fulfills her promise and entrusts Samuel to God’s service. Her prayer in the Responsorial Psalm overflows with joy, gratitude, and trust. Like Mary later in the Gospel, Hannah recognizes that God lifts the lowly, fills the hungry, and turns human expectations upside down. True joy, both women teach us, comes from giving, not grasping. In the Gospel, we hear Mary’s Magnificat—one of the most powerful prayers in all of Scripture. Mary praises God not only for what He has done for her, but for what He is doing for the poor, the humble, and the forgotten. Yet what often escapes our attention is the final line of the passage: “Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.” Before Mary returns to Nazareth, before the challenges ahead, she stays. She shares time, presence, work, silence, and joy with Elizabeth. This is where the theme of today comes alive. Mary does not rush away after proclaiming God’s greatness. She does not make her visit a brief obligation. She remains. She accompanies. She enters fully into the life of another. This is the quiet holiness of Advent: showing up, staying close, and sharing life. As Christmas approaches, many of us are busy sharing gifts, preparing meals, decorating homes, and planning gatherings. These are beautiful traditions. But today’s readings remind us that the most precious gift we can offer is our time. Time spent listening to a family member, sitting with someone who is lonely, forgiving an old hurt, or simply being present without distraction. In a world that rushes and scrolls, shared time becomes a sacred act. Mary teaches us that Christmas is not only about welcoming Christ into our homes but about letting Christ shape how we relate to one another. Like Hannah, we are invited to place our lives and our loved ones in God’s hands. Like Mary, we are called to remain with others in love, humility, and service. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we ask ourselves: With whom is God inviting me to spend time this Christmas? Whom am I called to accompany, even when it costs me something? If we learn to share our time as Mary did, then Christmas will not only be a day we celebrate—but a love we live.