In the Gospel scene just projected before us, what do we see? We see Mary traveling to the home of Elizabeth, Zechariah and their unborn son, John the Baptist, and bringing to them the Infant within her womb, Jesus Christ, the One Savior of the world. As we visualize this scene, the words of Pope Benedict XVI come to mind: “The Virgin Mary who did not communicate to the world an idea but Jesus the Incarnate Word, is an unparalleled model of evangelization” (cf. Angelus message, December 23, 2007).

Yes, Our Blessed Lady is an unparalleled model of evangelization! Evangelization lies at the core of the Church’s mission. Pope Paul VI clearly stated this in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi: “Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ’s sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of his death and glorious resurrection” (n. 14).

Since we are members of Christ’s Body the Church, we must, like Mary in today’s Gospel scene, bring Jesus to everyone we meet and to each situation we encounter. Our Holy Father expressed this reality in these words: “…May every Christian and every community feel the joy of sharing with others the Good News that ‘God so loved the world that He gave his Only Son…that the world might be saved through him’ (Jn. 3:16-17). This is the authentic meaning of Christmas, which we must rediscover and live intensely” (Op. Cit.).

So then, we must evangelize. However, in order to evangelize, we ourselves must first be evangelized. Pope Paul VI emphasized this truth: “The Church is an evangelizer, but she begins by being evangelized herself….In brief, this means that she has a constant need of being evangelized, if she wishes to retain freshness, vigor and strength in order to proclaim the Gospel….” (Op. Cit., n. 15).

The central theme of this year’s Simbang Gabi urges us to become evangelized: “Open your hearts to Jesus, through Mary and Joseph”. First, we must open our hearts to Jesus, thereby allowing Him to deepen His life-giving presence within each one of us, His presence which transforms us more and more into His image. Then, with our minds and hearts remade in His image and witnessing to Him in our words and actions, we can genuinely bring Jesus to others and credibly invite them to open their hearts to Jesus, their Savior and Lord.

Notice that this year’s Simbang Gabi theme invites us to open our hearts to Jesus through Mary and Joseph. Our Blessed Lady and her spouse Saint Joseph teach us and show us how to open our hearts to Jesus. They teach and show us how to be evangelized. How? By listening attentively to His word and obediently doing His will. Both Mary and Joseph were open to the Word of God and were absolutely obedient to that Word.

When we reflect on Mary’s words and actions recorded in the scriptures, we clearly see that she was attentive to God’s word and with obedient faith gave her “yes” to doing His will. She did not know in advance what her initial “yes” would mean. Throughout the rest of her life, she repeated that “yes” in every situation which she encountered. Recall the uncomfortable journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus in a cold damp stable, the murderous intent of King Herod and the exile in Egypt, the three-day loss of Jesus in the temple, the death of Saint Joseph, the suffering of Jesus on the way to Calvary and His cruel death on the Cross.

As for Mary, so too for Saint Joseph. Although the scriptures do not record his words, we do see his actions. He was humanly confused when Mary became pregnant. Although he had decided on what he thought he should do, when God intervened in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, Saint Joseph accepted God’s word and obediently followed God’s will. Like Mary, Saint Joseph would learn as he journeyed through life what his initial “yes” to God would entail. Both Mary and Joseph opened their hearts to God, receiving His word with faith and doing His will with obedience, in good times and in bad. Both Mary and Joseph are real models for us to imitate as we open our hearts to Jesus and invite others to do so as well. We do not know what God will ask of us, but with obedient faith, we must give our “yes” to Him as did Mary and Joseph.

Christmas is drawing ever closer. In a heightened way on Christmas but, in fact, every day, the Lord Jesus stands before the door of our hearts, seeking to enter and dwell with us. Pope Benedict XVI so beautifully expresses this: Christ “never ceases to knock at our door like a humble pilgrim in search of hospitality.”

Today, surely during the Christmas liturgy — in fact, every day, let us open our hearts to Jesus as did Mary and Joseph, inviting Him to enter and to stay with us: “Come, Lord Jesus, come! Live in our hearts forever!” And let us at the same time bring this Savior, Jesus the Lord, to others and invite them to welcome Him, along with us, so that He may save us all! Amen.