Saturday
21st December 2019. Read Songs 2:8-14, Psalm 33:2-21 and Luke 1:39-45.
_“And when
Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb; and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry,
‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’” *(Luke
1:41-42)*_
Our first
reading today is from the Song of Songs. It is a passage that talks about the
beloved leaping upon the mountains like a gazelle, the beloved whose voice is sweet
and appreciated.
When we
juxtapose this reading with our Gospel passage, we see Mary (the gazelle),
going with haste to the hill country (leaping upon the mountains) to the house
of Zechariah. We also see how the voice of Mary’s greeting made the baby in
Elizabeth’s womb leap for joy, as the lover leaps for joy at the voice of the
beloved.
Elizabeth,
pregnant in her old age is at home hiding from people lest they begin to run
their mouths. Mary, a young woman comes to visit her. As soon as Elizabeth hears
Mary’s greeting, she opens her mouth and utters powerful words. Words that
would define Christianity for ages to come.
It was from
Elizabeth’s mouth that we get to hear about Mary’s pregnancy. “Blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). Elizabeth
introduces Mary to the world as the woman who is blessed among all women.
Elizabeth and Angel Gabriel gave us the “Hail Mary” prayer.
Elizabeth added:
“And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke
1:43). Let us pause for a while to dwell on this verse. Mary had not yet given
birth, Elizabeth was already honouring her as the “Mother of God.”
It doesn’t
end there, Elizabeth also said: “And blessed is she who believed that there
would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45).
Apart from addressing Mary as the Mother of God, Elizabeth reveals the reason
why Mary attained such a glorious height; Mary believed the words spoken to her
by the Angel Gabriel.
One might
wonder, how did Elizabeth manage to know and say these things? The answer lies
in Luke 1:41, “Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit.” When we have the
Holy Spirit in us, our utterances no longer come from our heads but from God.
Elizabeth was not a priest neither was she a scholar but by the Holy Spirit,
she became a Dogmatic Theologian; she defined the doctrine of Mary as the
Mother of God, and she began active devotion to Mary. This is why we must constantly
pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, may the Holy Spirit overshadow me now and always. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the
3rd Week of Advent. Bible Study: Songs 2:8-14, Psalm 33:2-21 and Luke
1:39-45).
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