Fourth Sunday of Advent

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.”

Mary is blessed because she believed what God spoke to her would be fulfilled. We might not receive such direct revelations in our lives, but we should prepare ourselves to accept the messages we receive from God through the people in our lives. Elizabeth’s message to Mary is inspired by the Holy Spirit and in our own lives sometimes we say or hear things inspired by God. We might not always be able to understand or appreciate to these moments when God speaks to us through others, but we should try to keep our ears and hearts open to them. And if we do listen to these moments, then our souls will also proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in the graces that God, our Savior gives us each day.

Are we listening for the words and inspirations of God in our lives? What will we do if we hear them? Do our souls proclaim the greatness of God and our spirits rejoice in His saving graces?

O Lord, let our hearts leap for joy as we meet with Mary in prayer.

Amen.