Fr Kevin Kilgore

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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. 

What do they reveal about her?

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Mary is often depicted as a young girl – humble, her eyes cast down, a peasant living on the fringe of society.

While there’s truth in that, there is something else about Mary that’s rarely depicted, something we discover in today’s Gospel.

Mary’s prophetic role. 

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

For a moment, Mary sees as God sees, into a new world being ushered in by Jesus – a world of justice, love, and peace. 

For this reason, she becomes like figures from the Old Testament, playing the role of prophet.

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Take a moment today to imagine the world Mary envisioned – a world where swords are beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.

Then, in some small way, work to achieve it.

Mary, Mother of God and prophetess, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Our Lady of Guadalupe (2) We Dare To Say (3) The School of Mary

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Gospel:

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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The tension in the Christmas story is building.

On Monday, we encountered Zechariah. The angel Gabriel promised him that his wife, Elizabeth, although elderly and barren, would conceive a son. But Zechariah was struck mute because of his unbelief.

Yesterday, doubt succumbed to faith. Mary was told a similar message from the angel Gabriel, that she, too, would conceive a son. But she responded humbly in faith, “Let it be done unto me according to your word.”

Today, she travels 80 miles into the hill country, seeking her elderly cousin, Elizabeth. Although Mary has great faith, and accepts God’s plans for her life, she cannot live it out alone.

She needs a friend.

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This is a beautiful element added to the Christmas story: friendship. 

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Think about the friends Mary makes along the way.

Today she finds comfort in Elizabeth.

When she gives birth to Jesus, she’ll be surrounded by Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels.

When she flees into Egypt, Joseph will protect her.

Even as the Lord is dying upon the Cross, Mary finds comfort in the Apostle John, who remains by her side and welcomes her into his home.

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Looking at our own journeys, when have we had such a friend, someone who supports us in our effort to live out our faith?

Are we such a friend for others?

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Like Mary, may these two elements of the Christmas story – faith and friendship – always be found in us.

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Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) Bible Study, crosswalk.com (3) Bible Verses To Go

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Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38

In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The Advent season reminds us that nothing is impossible for God. 

The barren conceive. The virgin is with child. The Word is made flesh and dwells among us.

The invitation is to believe that God still does the impossible today.

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In yesterday’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him that his wife Elizabeth – although elderly and barren – would bear a child.

Today he appears to Mary with a similar message, “Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son… and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Zechariah responds to the angel with doubt. “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

Mary, on the other hand responds humbly in faith, “Let it be done unto me according to your word.”

Two stories of the impossible. And two very different responses of faith.

Which of these two characters do I identify with more, Mary or Zechariah?

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Perhaps we all begin our faith journeys like Zechariah – surprised by providence, unsure of God’s power to save. We lean more into doubt than faith.

But as we mature, we begin developing faith like Mary, who believes that nothing is impossible for God.

May she intercede for all us, that our faith in Jesus would never fail; on the contrary, may it grow stronger by the day.

Mary Immaculate, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Watchman Nee Quote (2) The Annunciation Virgin Mary Angel Garbriel, Carl Bloch (3) Crosswalk.com