Gospel – Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Canon Malachy Brett
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, Luke stresses the readiness of Mary in serving, in being a handmaid. Mary went as quickly as she could to her cousin Elizabeth. The journey from Nazareth to Ein Karim was long and uncomfortable. Mary, who carries the secret- she is the womb of God. This visitation was a Eucharistic moment. The light of Christ comes to Elizabeth through Mary. Both women rejoice! Mary’s one desire is to go out in loving service to help her pregnant cousin.
Mary brought God to Elizabeth in her heart and in her womb. We bring God to everyone we meet, and everyone we meet brings God to us. But this particular case is special, unique. Jesus, the child that Mary is carrying, is recognised by the child in Elizabeth’s womb – John leaps in recognition of the one whom both mothers revere as ‘Lord’ (John himself being of miraculous origin from an elderly mother).
Lord, as Christmas draws ever closer free me from being self-absorbed and self-centred. Instead fill me with eagerness and generosity of heart. Like Mary, may I too go out in loving service of others and experience your Love leaping up in me and in those with whom I come in contact.
- Putting myself in the place of Mary and Elizabeth: am I able to perceive and experience the presence of God in the most simple and common things in everyday life?
