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Gospel: Luke 1: 57-66

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son. 
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her. 
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.” 
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born…and the day you know why.”

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In today’s Gospel, we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. From the moment of his birth, people were wondering, “What will this child be?”

Why was he born?

They knew John had a divine purpose. But they’d have to wait another thirty years to find out what it was. 

Eventually, John would build up God’s kingdom, leading thousands of people to Jesus.

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John reminds us we all have a destiny, a divine purpose for our lives. Part of our life is spent finding that purpose. 

And the rest is spent living it out.

In my own case, I know I was born to be a priest. Thirty-five years ago, while the Lord was knitting me together in my mother’s womb, he was also planting the seed of a calling – a call to love and serve his people.

How grateful I am to have found my purpose, and to share that with the people of Saint Pius X.

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But what about you? Have you found your “why?”

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“I know well the plans I have for you,” says the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah. If you’ve found your way, then keep going. Give thanks to God for his guidance.

If, on the other hand, you’re still searching for your calling, or if you feel like you’ve lost your way, then turn to the Lord for help.

So long as we wake here on planet earth, God has a purpose for our lives. No minute is wasted.

Although the details may vary, we know this: like John the Baptist, somehow every life is meant to draw others closer to Jesus.

How might I do that today?

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Gospel: Luke 1: 46-56

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is the longest set of words ever spoken by a woman in the New Testament, words spoken by Mary shortly after conceiving Christ in her womb.

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Mary’s often depicted as a young girl; feminine; humble; her eyes cast down; passive; a peasant living on the edge of society.

While there’s truth in all of these, there are two things about Mary rarely depicted; things we discover in today’s Gospel passage.

Her prophetic role. And her strength.

All of the words Mary speaks are in the past tense. God, “has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.”

For a moment, Mary sees as God sees – beyond space and time – into the new world being ushered in by Jesus. In looking to the future, Mary plays the role of prophet.

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But what about her strength?

The words of the Magnificat, Mary’s words, have been seen by many as revolutionary. This hymn has even been banned by governments at different points in history, such as India, Argentina, and Guatemala, because of what it proposes.

There’s a moral revolution. God will “scatter the proud in their conceit,” exalting the humble.

There’s a social revolution. God will, “cast down the mighty from their thrones,” ending all abuse of power.

And there’s an economic revolution. God will “fill the hungry with good things,” giving everyone their fair share.

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We’re a long way from these promises being fulfilled in our world. But Mary saw the end – and she rejoiced.

As Christians, we’re invited to usher in this new kingdom of peace and justice in the smallest of ways:

By living humbly like Mary. Sharing our resources like the shepherds. And protecting the poor like the first Christians did.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

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Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45

Mary set out in those days
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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is the only encounter in the Gospels between two women… and they’re both carrying secrets. 

Mary and Elizabeth are holding onto the most intimate secret a woman can physically experience – being pregnant. Why either of them is pregnant is strange, almost unbelievable.

Mary conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth in her old age. 

Instead of celebrating, throwing huge baby showers surrounded by their family and friends, they must celebrate together… quietly, unnoticed by the outside world.

They might not have much … but they have one another. And that’s what counts in the end.

In fact, we see just how strong and nourishing their relationship is, as Mary stays with Elizabeth for three full months.

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This encounter between them reminds all of us just how much we need other people – we need friends who bring out the best in us; who encourage us; who nourish our hearts with love; who affirm us in our faith.

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How am I a friend for others? How do I nourish other people with love, much like Mary and Elizabeth nourished one another? 

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Sometimes being a friend comes at a cost. 

Elizabeth offered Mary the comfort of her home, her food, and above all, her heart for three full months. Sacrifices she made while pregnant herself.

But that’s what we’re called to do as Christians – to love and support one another – no matter what the cost may be.

Strangely enough, being kind and generous towards others makes us happier, too. 

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