The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the joy and fulfillment that the Spirit invites us to experience in our acceptance of the Will of God.
The Prophet Zephaniah proclaims a Song of Joy for Israel.
The Song of Songs declares a Springtime Rhapsody.
* [2:8–13] In this sudden change of scene, the woman describes a rendezvous and pictures her lover hastening toward her dwelling until his voice is heard calling her to him.
* [2:9] Gazelle: a frequent motif in ancient poems from Mesopotamia.
* [2:14] The woman is addressed as though she were a dove in a mountain cleft out of sight and reach. (Song of Songs, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Mary Visits Elizabeth
* [1:43] Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord.
* [1:45] Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14). (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
George Butterfield invites us to think of those things which bring us joy. For God, it’s us. And how does he rejoice? He sings joyfully.
The psalmist turns this around and exhorts us to “sing to him a new song, with shouts of gladness.” John the Baptist “leaped for joy” in his mother’s womb. Yes, we are a people of gratitude, gladness, and joy and this leads us to sing. Just never forget that someone else is singing joyfully over you. (Butterfield, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “John prophecies from the womb,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).
"Not yet born, already John prophesies and, while still in the enclosure of his mother's womb, confesses the coming of Christ with movements of joy - since he could not do so with his voice. As Elizabeth says to holy Mary, 'As soon as you greeted me, the child in my womb exulted for joy.' John exults, then, before he is born. Before his eyes can see what the world looks like, he can recognize the Lord of the world with his spirit. In this regard, I think that the prophetic phrase is appropriate: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came forth from the womb I sanctified you' (Jeremiah 1:5). Thus we ought not to marvel that after Herod put him in prison, he continued to announce Christ to his disciples from his confinement, when even confined in the womb he preached the same Lord by his movements." (excerpt from SERMON 5.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:39-45 invites us to echo Elizabeth’s words and join her today in proclaiming, Blessed are you who believed.
Blessed are you, Mary, who believed with joy. Thank you, Mary, for showing us the way of faith! May we, too, say to the Lord, “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary, pray that we all can rejoice when God’s will is being accomplished and his kingdom is being advanced.
“Blessed are you, Mary! Help me to believe the Lord and do his will today.” (Meditation on Luke 1:39-45, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the role of Nature in the Song of Songs and the Hebrew Testament symbol of love, the Dove. Zephaniah praises God, who comes to bring joy to daughter Israel. Friar Jude notes how John the Baptist in the womb is first to point to Jesus when Mary visits Elizabeth in Ein Karem and is proclaimed as blessed in her trust in God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual writer Christine Aroney-Sine, who offers a breathing prayer and practice.
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your cares and concerns
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your doubts and despairs
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your fears and frustrations
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s womb
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being
Breathe in the breath of God
Breath out your tensions and turmoil
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your haste and hurry
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your work and worry
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mothers’ wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being (Rohr, n.d.)
We pause to reflect on the gifts from God that bring us joy and enable our action to fulfill our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.
References
Butterfield, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122124.html
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?39
Meditation on Luke 1:39-45. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/21/1156488/
Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Mutual Indwelling: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/mutual-indwelling-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Joyful Anticipation of the Messiah. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec21
Song of Songs, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/songofsongs/2?8
Zephaniah, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zephaniah/3?14
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