ZEPHANIAH 3: 14-18/ LUKE 1: 39-56
Imagine that you were trapped somewhere; let’s say a lift for several hours and then eventually you were able to get out. Do you think your Joy would be quantifiable?
The joy experienced by Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist falls in this category of unquantifiable joy. Similarly, in our gospel reading today, we find something similar. Mary’s song of salvation was filled with joy and relief. This morning we heard of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, announcing news of the birth of a baby to this virgin. Mary then goes off to visit Elizabeth, her relative, who is also about to have a baby in a remarkable circumstance. Much later than she ever would have imagined possible. It’s when Mary arrives at Elizabeth’s house, having travelled three or four days, that she bursts forth in this salvation song, with that opening line: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ however, very key in our reflection today is the joy these visitations brought in their trail. Zechariah sang thus; “blessed be the lord the God of Israel, he has visited his people and redeemed them” and Mary sang thus; “my soul glorifies the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour… from now all generations will call me blessed.”
When we go about visiting people, or even when occasions brings us together, do we bring out the best in them by making them happy, or do we leave them worse than we met them?
God's gift of salvation begins with a visit. Those whom he visited, in turn, shared the joy with the people they met. That accounts for why John leapt for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Dearly beloved, our Lord continues to visit his people and spreading joy into their lives. As we welcome Christ into our hearts in the Eucharist today, may we experience the joy that made john leap for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Amen
Imagine that you were trapped somewhere; let’s say a lift for several hours and then eventually you were able to get out. Do you think your Joy would be quantifiable?
The joy experienced by Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist falls in this category of unquantifiable joy. Similarly, in our gospel reading today, we find something similar. Mary’s song of salvation was filled with joy and relief. This morning we heard of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, announcing news of the birth of a baby to this virgin. Mary then goes off to visit Elizabeth, her relative, who is also about to have a baby in a remarkable circumstance. Much later than she ever would have imagined possible. It’s when Mary arrives at Elizabeth’s house, having travelled three or four days, that she bursts forth in this salvation song, with that opening line: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ however, very key in our reflection today is the joy these visitations brought in their trail. Zechariah sang thus; “blessed be the lord the God of Israel, he has visited his people and redeemed them” and Mary sang thus; “my soul glorifies the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour… from now all generations will call me blessed.”
When we go about visiting people, or even when occasions brings us together, do we bring out the best in them by making them happy, or do we leave them worse than we met them?
God's gift of salvation begins with a visit. Those whom he visited, in turn, shared the joy with the people they met. That accounts for why John leapt for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Dearly beloved, our Lord continues to visit his people and spreading joy into their lives. As we welcome Christ into our hearts in the Eucharist today, may we experience the joy that made john leap for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Amen
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