Blessed is she who believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled

Zeph. 3:14-18, Lk. 1:39-45. In today's Gospel, we reflect on the dramatic scene of the meeting of two mothers in waiting and two sons to be born. The two sons, Jesus and John, had a moment of spiritual sharing and strengthening faith in their encounter. In the same way, the Spirit renews faith and confidence in God’s promises and inspires us with love of God and neighbour. Like Mary who brought God to Elizabeth in her heart and in her womb, we can also bring God to everyone we meet in our life’s journey. Elizabeth takes the moment to praise Mary’s faith in the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Holy Spirit that filled her at the annunciation made her a woman of faith and joy and she proclaims mighty works of the Lord.

God is great because He defines Himself in terms of the weak and the oppressed and decides to work in the world among lowly handmaids and barren women. Mary carried Jesus in her womb and Elizabeth also bore John in her womb. While the mothers met, John the Baptist in the womb of Elizabeth recognised Jesus. There was excitement as he leapt in his mother’s womb and is uttered in the form of a prayer dear to the Church today. Mary literally was 'Jesus carrier' and thereby became the carrier of the good news. She did not merely reach out to Elizabeth who was in her sixth month in her need; even more, she brought Elizabeth the greatest blessing ever: Jesus. Each of us is 'Jesus carrier'. We must like Mary carry Him and share the good news of His birth to everyone. The 'take away' message for us from this encounter is found in the lips of Elizabeth: “And blessed is she who has believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” This is also the message for the community: to believe in the Word of God, because the Word of God has the power to fulfill all that it proclaims. It is a creative Word that generates new life in the womb of the Virgin and in the hearts of people who accept it with faith.

May the Lord who entered our world and shared our condition, bring health to the sick, give the dying a share in His glory and unite their efforts for a better world! Amen!! Keep safe and have a productive week!!!