[ Today's Readings ]
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit
Let's listen for Mary's greeting today. Just as she brings Jesus to Elizabeth so that Elizabeth can be filled with the Holy Spirit so too does she do for us. The Holy Spirit comes upon her and the power of the most high overshadows her at the conception of Jesus. But she continues to be the privileged place of encounter with her Son. And she is there at Pentecost. The Spirit continues to come to us through her.
Elizabeth doesn't have to have elaborate rituals of Marian devotion to reap this benefit. There isn't some thirty day consecration, great as something like can be. Indeed, all she does is listen. We expect that so much more than this is required of us to be filled with the grace and consolations of the Holy Spirit.
Attentiveness to Mary's presence is more than enough.
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,
“Most 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.
Mary wants to give us what she herself first receives. It is a promise that is not just to her but to all who fear the LORD in every generation.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
We look to the lowly whom he lifts and we ourselves are lifted.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
Mary is first hungry, but she is filled with good things. She is literally filled with the bread of life. The LORD wants to use those whom he first feeds with this bread to go and feed others.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
The proud are cast down because they can't look to a lowly virgin for their help or their food. So let us not be proud. She comes to visit us today. If we receive her message, the Word made flesh, and the Spirit who accompanies him, we have no further misfortune to fear.
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
By the Spirit who accompanies Mary we are empowered to live lives that are truly Christian.
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
We become confident and unafraid because the LORD himself becomes our strength and our courage. With sing his praises. We shout with exultation!
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
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