REFLECTIONS TODAY
For Luke, Mary is hailed not so much because of her motherhood of the Son of God but, first and foremost, because she is a believer. In the Annunciation, Mary’s faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer continues in her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection (Acts 1:14). Mary is presented as a model of how one should relate to the word of God.
Once, hearing Jesus speak about God, a woman in the crowd exclaimed: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Jesus quickly directed the woman to what her mother is really praiseworthy of: “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Lk 11:27-28).
Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and for her belief, she humbly sees herself as the Lord’s lowly handmaid. Her visit to her cousin Elizabeth demonstrates the permeating joy she brings to another believer. Mary and Elizabeth point to us the joy in believing in the word of God and in putting it into practice. Let us take inspiration from their faith.
FIRST READING •Zep 3:14-18a
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.
GOSPEL • Luke 1:39-56
Mary set out 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.”
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him/ in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” 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.