In our Gospel today in Daily Mass, we hear Mary’s joyful hymn of praise, the Magnificat. Mary proclaims this hymn of praise in response to the greeting she receives from her cousin Elizabeth. The Magnificat reimagines the world differently in light of God’s justice, with the hungry being filled with good things, with the lowly being lifted up by God, with God bringing mercy and assistance to his chosen people. This is very different from the reality many face in our world today, with the mighty, the powerful, and the rich asserting their domination over others and receiving preference in different ways.
Bishop Kopacz has challenged us parishes and us priests to a reimagining process in which we reflected upon what it means to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic as a Church and as a parish. He is asking us to look at the reality of our parish and community, at the demographic trends that we face. He is asking us to look at our liturgies, at our involvement in the community, at our outreach to the poor and the needy, at our evangelization efforts to fallen away Catholics and to those in the community in general. This reimagining process we are undertaking fits well into the vision of the magnificat, which reimagines what the world can be in the context of the peace and justice of God’s kingdom. It is good for all of us to think about what our parish can be, what our Church can be. It challenges us to be bold, creative, courageous, and imaginative. Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln.
Luke 1:46-56
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon 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 remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
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