REFLECTIONS TODAY  The Gospel highlights the blessedness of Mary and Elizabeth, two channels of God’s graces. In the Bible, God is said to “visit” his people often. God is like a king who loves his people and visits them every so often to see how they are and to reassure them that he continues to care for them. An occasion of “visitation” always engenders hope and joy in both the “visitator” and the “visited.” Both want to share blessings and good news. Thus, the visit is always an occasion for celebration. The meeting of Mary and Elizabeth and the joy each expresses to the other are also echoed in the babies being formed in their womb, with (the future) “John” even leaping for joy, as his mother exclaims. In most cultures, visiting another’s home involves bringing of gifts: fruits, sweets, or anything that serves as a token of good will and sharing of life. It is sad, however, that we cannot even visit those very near us because we are used to hiding ourselves behind walls and fences. Can we spare time to visit relatives and friends whom we have not seen in ages? Imagine the joy that our visit can bring!

Gospel • LUKE 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.” SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.