| |
|
|
Spiritual Reflection
| |
December 16, 2009 | | | |  | Spiritual Reflection Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20, 2009
Pray that we may be more aware of Christ's presence among us.
Elizabeth, well past normal childbearing years, is pregnant with her first child. She is visited by her cousin Mary, who is also with child. When she sees Mary she responds: 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.
Through the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth is able to recognize and celebrate the presence of Christ in Mary. Through the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist, while still in his mother's womb, leaps for joy at the sound of Mary's greeting. John is preparing the way for Jesus, even before either of them is born. Immediately after this passage, we hear the beautiful Magnificat, Mary's proclamation of what God has done for her. It begins: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. (Lk 1:46-47)
We have just a few days before Christmas. It may be a very busy time for you, but take time to read the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. You will hear more about Elizabeth, her husband Zechariah, the angel Gabriel, Mary and Joseph and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. If you do this, you likely will be better able to celebrate with joy the birth of our Saviour this Christmas. | | | | | |
|
|
|
 Our Lady of Lourdes - In 1858, in a grotto, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. When Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady. |
|
