We may never experience the forced eviction of our homes by foreigners. The misery and pain of helplessness and how the Lord our God seemed absent. Just as how the people experienced in the first reading when the Babylonians came. But we have all experienced the effects of slavery to our sins, shame and guilt. The Lord too seemed absent.
Today we have cause for joy, not simply joy but great joy! For the Lord is our joy and our salvation! He has come to free us from the slavery of sin to new life everlasting in Him. He is truly in our midst! For He dwells in our hearts! Let us bring Him into the homes of others just as our Blessed Mother did in today’s Gospel. So that they too may experience the great joy that we have and His peace.
Let us ring out our joy to the Lord, O we just; let us sing him a song that is new. Amen
Saint Peter Canisius, pray for us…
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First reading
Zephaniah 3:14-18 ·
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst
Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence; he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst; you have no more evil to fear.
When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear, do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.
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Gospel
Luke 1:39-45
Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
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