Her neighbors and relatives heard and rejoiced with her.

As we stand at the threshold of Christmas, today’s readings invite us into a very human and very holy moment: a community that knows how to rejoice together. Saint Luke tells us that when Elizabeth gave birth to her son, “her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.” This is not private joy. It is shared joy. It is communal rejoicing. And that, dear friends, is at the heart of the Christmas season. Elizabeth’s joy did not arise in isolation. For years she had carried the pain of barrenness, a quiet suffering known to God. When the Lord finally acted with mercy, her joy overflowed into the lives of others. Her neighbors and relatives did not envy her; they did not distance themselves; they entered into her joy. This is a powerful sign of a healed and faithful community—one that can celebrate God’s goodness in another person’s life. The prophet Malachi helps us understand why this joy matters. God promises to send a messenger to prepare the way, one who will “refine and purify” hearts like gold in fire. This purification is not meant to destroy but to restore relationships—“to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and children to their fathers.” True preparation for the Lord’s coming is not only personal holiness; it is renewed communion. Rejoicing with one another is a sign that God is already at work among us. In the Gospel, that refining work continues. The child is named John—not according to custom, but according to God’s will. When Zechariah submits in faith, his tongue is loosened and he blesses God. Joy and praise follow obedience. Awe spreads through the community. People begin to ask, “What, then, will this child be?” When God acts, shared joy awakens faith and expectation in others. As we enter the Christmas season, the Church invites us to this same posture. Christmas is not meant to be celebrated alone. It is a season for shared tables, shared worship, shared laughter—and even shared tears. To rejoice with one another means noticing the mercy God has shown in the lives around us: a healed relationship, a child baptized, a family reunited, a prayer finally answered. It also means standing gently with those for whom this season is difficult, so that no one rejoices alone and no one suffers alone. Psalm 25 prays, “Your ways, O Lord, make known to me.” One of those ways is this: God draws near to us through community. As Christ comes among us at Christmas, may He find us like Elizabeth’s neighbors—attentive to God’s mercy, ready to rejoice with one another, and eager to share in the joy of salvation. May our shared rejoicing become our witness, and may our Christmas joy make room for Christ to be born anew in our homes, our parish, and our hearts. Amen.