Fr Kevin Kilgore

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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, “Why was this child born? What will he become?”

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

After entering into the desert, John builds up the kingdom of God by his preaching and baptism of repentance, preparing thousands to receive Jesus.

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John reminds us that we all have a “why,” a reason for our lives. My mother used to say, her “why” was simply becoming a mother.

My “why” has been being ordained a priest.

What is your “why”?

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Perhaps the answer changes, even simplifies, over time. 

But we can be sure of this: the same Lord who gave us life also gives a purpose to each day. 

May we find it – and live out with love.

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Image credits: (1) Quoteistan, Mark Twain (2) Keesler Air Force Base (3) MTD Training

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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