Today,
we have the same Gospel reading that we will hear during our Sunday liturgy on
the 4th Sunday of Advent.
It’s interesting for us to note what events are included in our holy
scriptures and which are not. There is
no record in the Gospels of the discussion between Mary and Joseph about what
is about to happen in the birth of Jesus.
Rather, today we hear the conversation between Mary and her cousin
Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke. Mary
was probably a very young teenager at the time of Jesus’ birth, while Elizabeth
was her much older relative. Elizabeth
responds to Mary’s news not with fear, shock, bewilderment, or suspicion, but
instead with great joy. Elizabeth tells her: “Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.”
Elizabeth is most surprised by, and most appreciative of, Mary’s great
faith, as Elizabeth proclaims: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be
fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” Indeed, blessed is any man or woman who believes,
despite all the obstacles and barriers, despite all the evidence to the
contrary, despite any ridicule or peer pressure against that belief. God blesses us with his grace, he seeks us
out to have Christ be born in our hearts so that we might believe & become
his followers. Blessed are we who dare
to believe when God’s will acts in us in unique and unexpected ways.
Mary
was indeed the first disciple. Mary is a
model of discipleship as well as being the Mother of God and the Mother of our
Church – Our Mother. May the intercessory
prayers of Mary give us guidance and strength.
May her mother’s love bring us further along on our journey of
faith.
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