15-Aug-16

Gospel LK 1:39-56

Mary set out
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,
“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.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on 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 has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
Reflection:
Accepting God's plan as revealed by an angel, Mary replied, "Be it done unto me according to your word."
"Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah"
Why in "haste?"
Certainly Mary would have heard that Zechariah's wife, her elderly aunt Elizabeth, had miraculously become pregnant in her old age.
Did Mary hasten to Elizabeth because she felt her aunt was the one person who would truly believe and understand her experience of being visited by an angel?
When we experience the miracles of life, don't we, too, rush to those who we trust will believe and embrace our experience?
Elizabeth greeted Mary with the words that became enshrined in the prayer to the Mother of God: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
Bonded in the womb and for life, John the Baptist called the world to repentance while Jesus called mankind to the unconditional love of the Father.
"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
Because Mary "believed," God's word was "fulfilled."
Like Mary, we are also called to be partners with God, bringing about His kingdom on earth.
When our hearts are touched by the Spirit, and we feel ourselves being called to act, can we whisper, "I believe. Be it done according to your will."
Jesus said, "All things can be done for the one who believes.” (John 9:23)
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on 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."
- - Mary Most Holy