When Mary hears of her cousin, Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she immediately goes to stay with her, and help her through the last stages of childbirth.
When Mary arrives, Elizabeth, alerted by her baby dancing for joy in her womb, responds to the Good News by blessing Mary, God’s messenger. She is totally aware of an overwhelming sense of the divine presence and blessing, and expresses it in words that have echoed down through the centuries: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:42)
Elizabeth is able to see clearly what is happening. Here, she challenges us to notice the moments in our lives when God is clearly present to us.
In the Magnificat, Mary proclaims that her ‘soul reflects the greatness of the Lord, and her spirit exalts in God (her) Saviour.’ Because of her complete openness to God, Mary’s faith takes her a step further. In line with the men and women prophets before her, she proclaims God’s eternal compassion for all of us who are downtrodden, poor and enslaved. God’s desire is that God’s vision of a just and peaceful world becomes ours.
Prayer:
With you as my guide, Mary, help me see what I am called to do. Help me display love in action the way you did. Give me the grace to not simply receive and hold onto what God has revealed but to spread the Good News. May I, like you, reach out to others and show them my care and concern in whatever way is needed.
Source: Jacqueline de Verteuil, CSJ (Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto)
