Make Haste to Find Community!

The Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke (1, 35-45)

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to the city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! and why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of  your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

Reflection: We learn from the second Joyful Mystery the importance of having a Catholic Community. Mary was most faithful and trusting, accompanied by angels, filled with the Holy Spirit and Full of Grace...and yet, God knew She needed the support of a loving and believing friend.

Mary was sent to Her cousin Elizabeth, but their bond would be much more than familial. Elizabeth's own baby was, too, miraculously conceived and also pre-announced by the Angel Gabriel. Their experiences were so similar and their missions were so closely related that all Mary had to do was say, "Hello," and Elizabeth instantly knew and understood why Mary was there. No explanations needed.

Prayer: Mother Mary,  be a friend to me and make haste to help me in the daily duties of my vocation. I ask for all the graces needed to magnify the eternal goodness of the Lord with my life. Please ask God to bless me with true and holy friendships that will strengthen my discipleship and add zeal to my mission to please God.

Suggestion for meditation: Imagine overhearing Elizabeth and Mary pondering what the future holds for their boys. In your heart, join in the conversation and share with St. Elizabeth and our Blessed Mother a fear or hope you have for your own future or that of someone you love.

My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;

because He has regarded the lowliness

of His handmaid;

for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

because He who is mighty had done

great things for me,

and holy is His name;

And His mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear Him.

He has shown might with His arm,

He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He had put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant,

mindful of His mercy

Even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham

and to His posterity forever.

Be Not Afraid to choose Obedience!

During the Liturgical season of Advent, the Catholic faithful are encouraged to meditate on the Joyful Mysteries during their daily Rosary. This week I would like to offer my audience a personal reflection, prayer and a suggestion for meditation on the Gospel scene of Luke 1: 26 -37: "The Annunciation". This is the first Joyful Mystery.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a Virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary. And he came to Her and said, Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you. But She was greatly troubled at this saying and considered in Her mind what kind of greeting this might be. And the angle said to Her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I have no husband?" And the angel said to Her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and overshadow you; therefor the child to be born will be called holy." And behold your kinswoman Elizabeth is her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."

Reflection: The first Joyful Mystery teaches us to imitate Mary in prompt obedience to the plan of God. Tradition tells us that when the Angel Gabriel appeared, Mary was praying with Scriptures for the Messiah to come. Gabriel must been magnificent in both stature and persona! Was it his grandeur that startled Her? OR....was She shaken because She never, ever expected God to use Her to answer this prayer of Her people? We read that Mary was greatly troubled at first and had some (maybe a lot), of questions. Yet, with a firm belief that all things are possible with God, obedience was given immediately. Mary did not hesitate to say, "Yes!".
Prayer: Mother Mary, as we pray this decade, please ask God to fill us with His Grace, to be generous with His gift of courage so that we may be obedient to His Voice. May we always  answer whole-heartily, "Yes!" to whatever God is calling us to do.
Suggestion for meditation:  Place yourself in the Bible scene as an eye witness to "The Annunciation". When, in your imagination, you witness Mary say, "Be it done to me according to your word," ask the Angel Gabriel to give our Heavenly Father your permission to be used as He wills.