magnificat

Dear Family in Christ, are we not blessed to have a mother who is a perfect example of obedience and living God’s Word? No wonder she is was chosen to be the mother of the Word incarnate, Jesus.

We have two women in today’s gospel who have great faith and love for God’s word, and are grateful for the life they were carrying within them.

Elizabeth, who is a senior cousin, I am sure shared a special bond with Mary. All my sisters reading this reflection will agree that during pregnancy, with the morning sickness and pain and mood swings, we would only want to be around people who know us well and understand even our silence. Imagine how happy and relief she must have felt was when she saw her young cousin, who was kind and caring, coming towards her with love. Her own joy and excitement was only superseded by the leap of joy of the little child in her womb. Its just a simple act of love and caring, but Elizabeth could see the divine plan of which she was a part of. She could recognize the child in Mary’s womb as her Lord.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Elizabeth could understand what was happening because of her own faithfulness and obedience. We can learn from her to see and understand everything in the light of faith in God whose plans for our life are perfect.

Let’s turn our focus on the little girl who is barely 14 or 15 years of age, our Mother Mary. In today’s gospel she is a teenager who is visiting a cousin in need without giving importance to self and keeping the good news shared by the angel, in her heart. Even when her cousin greets her with such wonderful phrases she still does not get puffed up with pride. Instead, with a grateful heart she sings praises to the living God who has raised up this humble servant.

Both these women could rejoice and give God the glory is because they had a relationship with God who reflects in the choices they made and the life they lived.

Do you have a magnificat of your own to thank God for all He has done for you?
Do you understand and see God’s hand in your life with no excuse to you being too young, too old, not very educated etc?
Do you boldly declare God’s divine intervention and give testimony to His eternal love for you?

Lord, help us to grow spiritually in union with you so that we give you praise in everything we do, joyfully and for your glory. Amen.

PS. – You can share your own Magnificat in the comments below.