REFLECTIONS TODAY

After years of anticipation prolonged by the global coronavirus pandemic, the World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 happened in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 1-6, 2023. Throughout the week, young people from all over the world had the opportunity to attend catechism, masses, youth festival and concerts, prayers and encounter with the Pope. 

The theme of WYD 2023 was “Mary Rose Up and Went with Haste” (Lk 1:39). This was about the “Yes” of Mary and her rush to meet her cousin Elizabeth. Gabriel’s information to Mary about Elizabeth’s pregnancy is not only a proof that “nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:37). Mary takes it as a summon to visit Elizabeth to be of service to her. 

With the joy of the beloved in the coming of her lover (First Reading), Mary is full of anticipation in seeing Elizabeth and to share with her the wondrous things the Lord has also done for her. The theme, song of WYD 2023 “Há Pressa no Ar (“There Is a Rush in the Air”) recalls Mary’s rush to see Elizabeth. 

When singing this song, the young all over the world are invited to identify themselves with Mary, disposing themselves to serve, to the mission, and to the transformation of the world. The song also evokes the joy that comes from Jesus.
 

First Reading• Sg 2:8-14 [or Zep 3:14-18a] 

Hark! my lover—here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle/ or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! “O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.”

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 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.