In our gospel for today we hear the beautiful Magnificat that Mary proclaimed in response to Elizabeth saying to Mary, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:45) In this beautiful scene we can first see that John the Baptist, still in Elizabeth's womb, recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, then Elizabeth, through the power of the Holy Spirit acting through John in her womb, recognizes that Mary is carrying the Messiah in her womb. Further, Mary, in her humility glorifies God and proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
Both Elizabeth and Mary allowed God to work through them to bring salvation to the world. Elizabeth, learning from the infant in her womb, pointed towards the fact that Mary was carrying the Messiah in her womb. Elizabeth says to Mary, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:42)
The examples of Elizabeth and Mary serves to remind us that we are always to be open to God in our lives, no matter how difficult the situation that we're facing seems. Mary, a teenage woman, engaged to be married, but not yet with her husband, gives her "fiat", her "yes", to be the mother of the Messiah, even though it would create potential problems for her. She trusted God to work through her, no matter what the cost may be.
Elizabeth, in her old age, was also open to God's will in her life and, as a result, was able to conceive John the Baptist, who, even in Elizabeth's womb, was able to point towards Jesus as Messiah.
In our lives we are, like Mary and Elizabeth, are called to be open to God's will. We are called, like Mary, to bring Christ into the world to other people in our lives. Mary, during her visit to Elizabeth, was a walking tabernacle: carrying Jesus in her womb. When we receive Jesus at Holy Communion, are walking tabernacles, carrying Jesus from the church to the people we meet during our day or week after going to Mass.
Elizabeth, along with John, was able to recognize that Mary was blessed among women, and the fact that fruit of her womb is the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. We, as Catholic Christians, are called to love and cherish Mary as the Mother of God, Jesus, our savior. We are called to honor her for her "yes" in bringing salvation to the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let us, like Mary, bring Jesus into the world that needs to know that He is savior, and, like Elizabeth, point to Mary as blessed among women.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reflection. YES, Our Lady shows us how to be open to GOD'S will, even when life does not go according to how we would see it. How would she know that her YES would include riding or walking along a bumpy road to Bethlehem during the last stage of her pregnancy, finding no place to stay & having to give birth in a cave or stable, surrounded by animals (and probably having to help Joseph clean up the area first) & flee to Egypt in the middle of the night! Trusting GOD in all these situations was something in which Mary excelled, but I imagine there were some anxious moments with which she had to deal. Maybe she dealt with all these as she pondered everything in her heart.
Anyone in the state of grace is a living temple of the Holy Spirit, carrying the life of the Triune GOD. When we receive Our LORD in the Eucharist He is present within us even more in a unique way. We need to be more consciously aware of Our LORD'S Presence within us & allow this to impact how we relate to & treat others.