21 Dec , 2023 | Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Lk 1:39-45
Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
Reflections:
Mary’s visit brought much joy to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was filled with joy not only because her young cousin came to see her, but also because her baby in her womb shared her joy, leaping and kicking. And the gospel says, “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.’” Blessed indeed is the fruit of Mary’s womb—salvation came to the world. And Elizabeth’s cry “‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” is on the lips of millions every moment of the day in every part of the world. Do we treasure the gift of Mary as our mother? Do we wonder like Elizabeth, “Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Let us be confident that as Mary went with haste to visit and help Elizabeth, she will be quick to come to our aid in our time of need. St Alphonsus Liguori said, “Mary seeks us more than we seek her – she seeks our salvation more than we seek our own . . . Let us place ourselves under the mantle of Mary, and she will defend us from all dangers.”
Activity:
Let us spend some time during the day and reflect on the joy that Mary brought to Elizabeth. Then ask ourselves, ‘do I bring joy to those I meet, or, is my presence a joyous one in the midst of those I live with?’
🙏🙏
ReplyDelete