Breaking the Word

Third Week of Advent, Friday — 22^nd December 2023 — Gospel: Luke 1,46-56

God Remembers His Promise

Mary’s prayer of the Magnificat demonstrates the relationship she had with her God. She begins with praise and adoration – acknowledging who God is. God is an awesome God who truly saves those who call upon God. She then admits of her nothingness without God. She will be called blessed, not because of what she has done, but because of what God has done, is doing, and will be doing in her life. She goes on to thank God for the great things God has done. After stating her humble position in the divine plan, she speaks of her relationship with God in the present time, she reviews what God has done in the past, and she looks forward to God’s continuing to fulfill the divine promises in the future. Mary reminds through this prayer that God did not forget his people as they continued throughout the Old Testament to seek his face. God remains ever faithful, since He fulfills all of the divine promises.

Third Week of Advent, Thursday — 21^st 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.