Third Week of Advent, Thursday — 21st December 2023 — Gospel: Luke 1,39-45
Graced with Missionary Heart
The Gospel presents the account of the visitation of Mary to her elder cousin Elizabeth. It begins right after Mary has agreed to God’s request to become the mother of the Son of God. We find that Mary proceeded in haste to the hill country of Elizabeth, traditionally recognized as the town of Ain Karem, a few miles west of Jerusalem. Mary conceived Christ in her womb and then made haste to help Elizabeth. When Jesus resides within a soul, he will always send him or her to those in need. Being possessed of God’s sanctifying grace in our soul, God impels us to share with someone. Mary and Elizabeth are both filled with joy and surrounded by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Any act of love directed towards neighbour strengthens our disposition to love more. Both women are blessed with each other’s presence and the babies within their wombs. Mary, the mother of God, revealed her missionary heart by making haste to help Elizabeth. She becomes a model so that we become missionary disciples.
