[ Today's Readings ]
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Let's prepare our hearts to receive the one who is the answer to our deepest desires. Mary shows us how to receive the coming king. She shows us the joy and thanksgiving that ought to mark Christmas morning for all of us.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon 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.
Are we prepared to proclaim the greatness of the LORD? Are we ready to rejoice in our savior? Do we really know how blessed we are because of Christmas? 'Great things' is an understatement. Mary is at a loss for words to describe what God does for her. There is no precedent for it in history. There no way to expect it or anticipate it. All Mary can do is to receive the gift of her Son with joy and thanksgiving.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
As we receive the gift of Christmas we realize that it is the answer to every promise God ever makes. In hindsight we are able to see how everything points toward the morning of Christmas. This serves to heighten and further emphasize the importance of the gift as we receive it. It is the very culmination of history. In the gift, everything is changed. All wrongs are set right, even if that is yet incipient and hidden.
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.
Let us dedicate this gift back to the LORD. Jesus empowers humanity to return his own love to the Father in return for the Father's gift of the Son. Let us dedicate ourselves to returning this love always.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
She left Samuel there.
With Mary and Hannah let us proclaim, "My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior."
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