Luke 1:39-56
39 Soon afterwards Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea.
40 She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me?
44 For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness.
45 How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!”
46 Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord;
47 my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,
48 for he has remembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me happy,
49 because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me. His name is holy;
50 from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honour him.
51 He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.
52 He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
55 He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants for ever!”
56 Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.
Other readings: Rev 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; Ps 45:9-11, 15; 1 Cor 15:20-26
LECTIO
The Church has chosen this powerful text to celebrate Mary’s assumption into heaven. The events take place soon after the Angel Gabriel tells Mary of God’s plan for her life. She accepts the great honour of being the mother of the Son of God, though to the rest of the world she will appear to be an unmarried mother.
The reading starts with Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth who, after many barren years, is six months pregnant even though both she and her husband are past the age they would expect to have a child. On arriving at her cousin’s house Mary called a greeting. Hearing her voice Elizabeth feels her baby move within her. She is filled with the Holy Spirit and honours Mary as the mother of the Lord, confirming the Angel Gabriel’s words.
She commends Mary for believing the Lord’s message. She recognises that the movement of her baby, who will grow up to become John the Baptist, was a jump for joy at the presence of the Son of God in Mary’s womb. It is a wonderful prophetic moment.
Mary responds with an overflowing song of praise that magnifies the faithfulness and mercy of God. She begins by giving thanks that God has chosen her for this great honour. She then celebrates God’s deliverance for the poor and powerless, and the long-awaited fulfilment of his covenant promise to Abraham. There are echoes of Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and the heartfelt cries of Old Testament messianic prophecies.
Mary was granted this special place in God’s salvation plan. Catholic tradition teaches that, after Jesus’s death, Mary soon followed him to heaven, although this is not mentioned in the New Testament.
However, all true Christian believers live in the real hope and expectation that one day they too will be united with God in heaven for all eternity.
MEDITATIO
What does this text reveal about Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship with God? Consider Mary’s response to God. What can we learn from this and what can we apply in our own lives?
ORATIO
Read this song of praise over several times each day this week. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you from it and then respond to God in prayer. Offer your own words to magnify God and thank him for all he has done in your life.
CONTEMPLATIO
Take one part of the song and absorb it. Try and learn it so that it will always be there in your heart, your spirit and your prayer life. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Spend some time marvelling at the fulfilment of God’s plan of salvation.
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