Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,)
Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales; Scotland)
Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Gospel Luke 1:39-45 (English Standard Version, Anglicised)
In those days Mary arose and went with haste
into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby
leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud
cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of
your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my
Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my
ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken
to her from the Lord.”
'Gloria' told me afterwards that she could feel the baby moving as I blessed them both - and she had a smile on her face. She was able to go home to her own place some time later where she gave birth. Perhaps you could say a prayer for her and for her child, now aged about 17.
Rogier van der Weyden captures the sacredness of the lives of the unborn Jesus and John the Baptist. El Greco captures the swirl of a dance of life, the flowing blue robes suggesting the joy of the two pregnant mothers, Mary and Elizabeth. Luca della Robbia's sculpture shows the sacred intimacy of the moment that Mary and Elizabeth met, each carrying a precious life, Mary's child the Son of God, God-become-Man.
Today's gospel has particular relevance in the context of on-going public debates in a number of countries about abortion, including Ireland and the USA. When I used this material three years ago the Republic of Ireland was about to introduce abortion on demand up to twelve weeks, the new law to come into effect on New Year’s Day 2019, the Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary. 6,666 legal abortions took place in that year and 6,577 the following year. In 2023 there were 10,033.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
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One of a number of ministries to both women and men who have been directly affected by abortion is Rachel's Vineyard. I have connections with Rachel's Vineyard, Ireland, which has brought its healing retreat to such places as the Faroe Islands, Hungary, South Korea and Lebanon.
Traditional Latin Mass
Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 12-22-2024 if necessary).
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. Gospel: Luke 3:1-6.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight (Luke 3:4; Gospel).
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