Sunday, December 22nd
Scripture
Micah 5:1-4a
Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Heb 10: 5-10
Luke 1: 39-45
Reflection
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Lk 1: 42
This story of Mary visiting Elizabeth is very familiar to us, and this line, which Elizabeth says to Mary, is perhaps even more familiar as part of the Hail Mary in Catholic devotional prayer. I invite you to use your imagination and go beyond the veil of familiarity to see and hear some new insights about this event. Imagine Mary traveling toward Jerusalem to a village on a hill, Ein Kerem, where Zachariah and Elizabeth had a home (some scholars say a summer home away from the big city of Jerusalem). Having been to Ein Kerem, I and many others, can attest to its beauty even today, with lush greenery and a unique church of the Visitation, surrounded by plaques of the Magnificat in a wide variety of languages. Two women, younger and older, greet each other joyfully in a modern sculpture in the courtyard. There is peace and beauty.
Insight 1: Joy in seeing each other, gratitude in being together, younger helping older, pregnant women.
Insight 2: Hospitality, of God, of Elizabeth and Zachariah, of Mary, in housing the baby Jesus in embryo.
So, joyful, grateful hospitality is the grace we ask for. That our own lives be Spirit-filled is our prayer. So that we, who house the newly to be born, may birth joy and hope and peace daily in our world, so in need of grace.
Prayer
Hospitable God, Love of our lives, be born in us anew this Christmas.
Strengthen our joy and make us grateful for your gracious gifts,
for Life itself.
Deepen our joy, as we welcome you once again. Amen.
Personal Challenge
As we get closer to Christmas, I will gratefully pray that joy and hope
be born anew.
Sister Janet Franklin, CSJ
New Roads, LA
