Daily Reflection – Dec 8, 2015
Tuesday 8 December 2015
First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Psalm Response:
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds
Psalm 97(98):1-4
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Gospel Acclamation:
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38
Today’s Feast: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel Reading:
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Reflection:
The entrance antiphon is from Isaiah 61, put on Mary’s lips: “I exult for joy in the Lord; my spirit rejoices in my God, for God has clothed me in the garment of salvation and robed me in the cloak of justice, like a bride adorned with her jewels.” We often compare Mary’s Magnificat with the joyful song of Hannah over her son Samuel. Here is another refrain. We are invited to put on Christ; Mary here exults that God is clothing her with salvation and justice. Obviously salvation means more than getting to heaven and justice more than giving everyone his/her due.
What does salvation mean to Mary? Ask her; listen. How does this peasant woman do justice day by day? Ask her; listen. What do you want? How will this clothing fit you and your life style?
Thank you, God of glory, for our baptism, for immersing us in Jesus and filling us with his Spirit. Expand our hearts to take in the whole world, as Mary did and does.
