Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 4th Week of Advent: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 80: Evening, Psalms 146 and 147;
Isaiah 29:13-24; Revelation 21:22 to 22:5; Luke 1:39 to 56)
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” (Luke 1: 46 and 47)
I ask you all to listen again to the Christmas song “Mary did you know?” I like two lines in particular. One that says, “The child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.” And, “Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? That sleeping child you’re holding is the great, I Am.” It’s powerful stuff. Find it and listen to it again, please.
Pretty much every adult person that my mother knew, and especially visited, I knew as well, and I would have known their children. I have heard that Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. I don’t know about this but surely they should have know of each other as their mothers knew each other.
These two women left their mark on Christianity. Elizabeth gave us the words for the Catholic Rosary, “ Hail Mary full of grace, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary gave us her Magnificat, (Luke 1:46 to 55). She begins with, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
The take away for us is that we too have souls that are tuned in to God. and I would say also our souls magnify the Lord. If only we would listen to our own souls.
“And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her, (Luke 1:56). In those 3 months, these women would have heard nothing from Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband and the father of John the Baptist, because the angel Gabriel has made him mute until the child John is born; (Luke 1:20). Maybe during his quiet time Zechariah listened to his soul.
How has your soul informed you about God’s call on your life?
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 