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Gospel Reading for December 21, 2023 – Luke 1: 39-45
ENTITLED
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 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. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
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The angel Gabriel had just told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was on her sixth month of pregancy in her old age, and Mary hastefully travelled to the hill country. Did Mary go there to make sure that what the angel said was true? Surely not, because saying, “Be it done unto me according to thy word” meant she believed in everything the angel said. The fact that she he stayed with Elizabeth until the latter gave birth, showed that it was out of concern for Elizabeth. For a lot of women, pregnancy and giving birth are difficult situations to cope with.
It would be worse for Elizabeth because it was her first, and her first was at her old age. Elizabeth also mentioned, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” This shows very clearly the humility of Mary and her simplicity. Being told that she would be the mother of the Saviour did not make her feel ENTITLED or too important to take care of a pregnant old woman. No wonder, Mary was chosen to be the mother of our Saviour. Jesus needed to have the best mother in the world!
Mary, O Mary, teach us your ways!
