DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Friday, November 30, 2018

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?  For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” – Luke 1:41-45

Two unborn children stir within two hopeful mothers, mothers who were both kin and kindred spirits.  I believe both Mary and her cousin Elizabeth were women of faith and that faith was centered on hope.   They lived with a faith that promises would become fulfilled.  They lived with a faith that though long-delayed God would come to the aid of their nation, saving them from the heavy boots and sharp swords of the Romans.

Yes, I believe both mothers, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, reared and nurtured their sons in the spirit of Hope, anticipation of a new era dawning and a new realm forming.  John and Jesus, I believe now more than I ever did before, were deeply influenced by the quality of faith so abundant in their mothers.

Luke, the compiler of this Gospel, a man who was deeply influenced by the faith of his own mother, took much time in detailing this story of Mary and Elizabeth.  Possibly, he was keenly aware of the life-changing grace received in the embrace of maternal love.

Yes, more and more I cherish that quality of Divine Love expressed through feminine sensibilities.  Maybe that is why Christmas is so filled with gentle lullabies.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz