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December 22, 2014

In today’s first reading, Hannah implored the Lord for a son and a son was granted her. She promptly offered her son to the Lord and she prayed and exalted loud.

We also have Mary whose praise, thanksgiving and exultation of the Lord never ended. Notwithstanding her condition, she immediately traveled to the hill country to help her pregnant cousin. Here is shown the missionary spirit of Mary. Elizabeth, upon hearing Mary’s greeting, was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried. “Why is this that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:43-45)

In response to her cousin’s greeting, Mary sang her Magnificat which came forth from her humility, her faith, her hope, her joy, her thanksgiving. Mary was faithful in knowing the teaching of the past before her. Her song echoes the long ago prayer of Hannah: My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices … the almighty has done great things for me and holy is His name.” Mary teaches us how to pray and how to choose what to say to the Lord.

Mary, help us open our hearts and our mind to the Holy One so that we may listen and do His will in all things.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 1

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1 Samuel 1:24-28
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1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8

Luke 1:46-56
Similar Reflections

"GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME" (Ps 34:4)

"My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior." —Luke 1:46-47

The words of today's Gospel passage, commonly known as the Magnificat, are prayed every single day by Catholic priests, religious, and some lay people in the Liturgy of the Hours. These are words to unite people each day.

Mary had a heavy cross to bear. When she prayed her Magnificat, she didn't know if Joseph would receive her or reject her. She could have said, "My cross is heavy, my future unsure, and I'm scared." However, she focused on the Lord, rejoiced in Him, and praised Him and the great works He was doing, saying with her Old Testament matriarch Hannah: "My heart exults in the Lord, my horn is exalted in my God" (1 Sm 2:1).

By fixing our eyes on the world and its gift-giving and receiving, we magnify the world's Christmas. Instead, let us approach Christmas as Mary did: by praising and magnifying God. When we magnify the Lord, it is as if we look closely at Him as though looking through a magnifying glass. God becomes ever larger in our sight. We cannot help but be overwhelmed by His greatness and splendor. We thereby fix our eyes on Him (Heb 3:1), forget ourselves, and are lifted up.

With Mary, rejoice in Jesus and "be ready to greet Him when He comes" this Christmas.

Prayer: Father, make me blind to everything that takes my focus away from Jesus.

Promise: "I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request." —1 Sm 1:27

Praise: "O King of all the nations, the only Joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature You fashioned from the dust."