Gospel
Mary said:
“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.
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 remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
Lk 1:46-56
and then returned to her home.
Reflection
The Gospel for today is a continuation of yesterday’s reading. In the opening words of this Gospel, Mary proclaims the goodness and greatness of God. Despite the highly unusual circumstances of her call to be the mother of Jesus, Mary rejoices and proclaims that God has looked upon her with great favor. She isn’t overwhelmed by fear or panic.
Mary’s immediate and heartfelt response to God’s call makes it clear that Mary had a deep, personal relationship with God. She must have been somewhat confused by this call, yet Mary trusted the God who called her. Mary believed that God would guide her and grace her. While Mary was very young when God called her, she had a depth of faith and trust in God that many people never develop. What a wonderful gift!
We also can experience the gift of a personal and intimate relationship with God. Our relationship with God develops in the same way that any personal relationship develops: with time and experience. I assume that most of us do not place a great deal of trust in someone we have just met. True trust grows over time. It’s our personal experience of the person that enables us to begin to trust that individual. This also is true in our relationship with God. On some days, I thank God for giving me the strength to keep going. At other times, I am grateful to God for the multitude of blessings I have received. Sad to say, there also are some days when I forget to thank God.
Action
Take a moment and ask yourself: What is going well in my life? Do I take these blessings for granted? Do I thank God for the many blessings I receive each day? When/if life is painful, confusing, or difficult, do I still praise and thank God?
Today, let’s ask Mary to give us a share of her faith and trust in God—and of her love for God. Mary will walk with us and show us the way.
Fr. Jim Jakubowski
Co-Vicar of Clergy ANCC
Co-Pastor Sacred Heart of Jesus Kearny, NJ
Advent Retreat 