December 20th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Luke 1:39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth

 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Reflection
Mary went with haste to see Elizabeth. Something important was taking place. There was news to tell. Two women with child, and all meet. Both of these women opened up their minds, hearts, and spirits to a movement of God in their lives. A movement of God through their faith and openness to how God may use each one of them. Through faith they not only gave their lives for God but also gave their bodies to God as a sacrifice of love.

Something big was taking place. A bond of the souls between the women and a bond of their children in their wombs. All of them called by God to set up the coming of the Messiah in Jesus. This continues to this day through the Church and through the lives of the Children of God. We are called to announce and take our place in the coming of Jesus, in our lives and in the life of the world. We await the return of the Messiah. A return that not only takes place in the future but takes place now in our lives and the lives of those we take the Gospel of love to.

We give our lives, body and spirit to God and are called by God in some way to reach outside of ourselves to make known what God has done for all people through his coming in flesh into this world in Jesus. We live in the faith and trust that God keeps his promises.

It's with haste that we go to see another. To see God in someone else and to proclaim the joy God freely gives through the saving grace of Jesus. Something important was taking place in this passage and something important is taking place today in the lives of God's Children. Have faith and trust in what God has planned.

Prayer
Lord, something important has taken place and is taking place today. In faith and hope and trust I give my life to you as you call me to something important to do. Come, Lord Jesus, come... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen