Friday, December 21, 2012

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Today's Reflections




Mary Visits Elizabeth 

 graceandspace.org

 

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Lk 1:39-45

39Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”


Reflection:

The mother of my Lord. The Gospel is a lesson in sharing. Knowing she will be the mother of the Savior, the first thing Mary does is to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She certainly wishes to be of service and to provide companionship for Elizabeth who is also expecting her first child in her old age. But more than helping, Mary is sharing Jesus with her cousin.

Elizabeth must be anxious and fearful about the difficulties of childbearing in old age. Mary’s presence gives comfort, consolation, and assurance. More, Mary has brought Jesus to her. Who could calm her fears and anxieties better than Jesus?

Indeed, what better gift can we give than share Jesus with others? People need our sympathy, our understanding, our listening ear, our presence, our trust. It is admirable if we can give these. Yet, far better it is to share Jesus with people in need.

God is always near us, abot-kamay, within reach. God continually comes and visits. We meet him both in one who does good to us and in another who needs our assistance. He comes to help us especially when our cross seems too heavy, when we are in trouble, when we are down.

Do we let him in? Do we make him feel he is welcome and needed?


Do I go out of my way to listen to others,
offer my companionship, and show compassion?

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