DECEMBER 21 - Gospel (Lk 1:39-45) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:45)

FIRST READING - Sg 2:8-14

A reading from the Song of Songs

Hark! my lover–here he comes

springing across the mountains,

leaping across the hills.

My lover is like a gazelle

or a young stag.

Here he stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks; he says to me,

"Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,

and come!

"For see, the winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,

the time of pruning the vines has come,

and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs,

and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the secret recesses of the cliff,

Let me see you,

let me hear your voice,

For your voice is sweet,

and you are lovely."

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 1:39-45

From the Gospel according to Luke

Mary set out in those days

and traveled to the hill country in haste

to a town of Judah,

where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

"Most blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled."

DECEMBER 21 - Gospel (Lk 1:39-45)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God for today speaks of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she joyfully sets out to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

After the event of the angel Gabriel's announcement to Blessed Mother Mary, she said yes. And as soon as she heard the angel's message that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with a son in her old age, Mary had absolute faith in the power of God that had manifested in her elderly cousin, without the slightest doubt.

Thus, she hastily prepared to set out, in indescribable joy and happiness to bring the Son of God to visit the family of Zechariah and Elizabeth. This was the first human family visited by God incarnate through the womb of Mary.

As soon as Mary arrived, the power and strength of the Holy Spirit descended upon Elizabeth. The infant in her womb peculiarly leaped for joy. At the same time, Elizabeth was also filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. She raised her voice in praise and thanksgiving to God, praising the woman standing before her. "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Elizabeth was filled with joy and gladness because the Mother of God came to visit.

Through Elizabeth's blessing and praise, God also told all mankind that Mary is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Most High.

God calls on all mankind to believe that in God's plan of salvation, there is always the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She became the first person to bring the Good News to humanity; for the Messiah is hidden in her womb. Therefore, in the home of the first human family visited by God, the power of the Holy Spirit enveloped an atmosphere of joy, gladness, and happiness. The happiness that cannot be found anywhere else is the happiness of having God with us.

Therefore, in the era of the Holy Spirit, God opens up a sign for humanity that wherever there is the Spirit of God, there is the joy of conversion, acknowledging sins and abandoning sins, that is the joy of perfect Heaven right here on earth. For the Spirit of God envelopes the entire universe and all creatures, which are the human world and the world of fallen angels.

Today's Word of God also calls on everyone that if we want to have joy, we must open our hearts to welcome the Son of God, to receive His Holy Will; open our hearts to receive the love, strength, and power of God into our hearts; because wherever there is God, there is happiness and joy.

In today's world, God does not want us to be under the domination and control of Satan in extreme suffering. He calls on those people to run to the God of love, to come close to and to remain with Him; do not leave Him anymore; welcome Him into our hearts to have complete joy and happiness.

With the awareness that we are a good, holy, beautiful creature created by God. Now, because of sin, we have become ugly, dirty, and ashamed, not daring to approach God, Who is completely holy.

Therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit is connected with the time of Redemption which opens up to give humanity the graces of Conversion, Faith, and Healing.

He has called on humanity to sincerely examine ourselves and repent, to plead with Him: "May the Holy Spirit of God help us to acknowledge our sins and grant us the strength to be determined to avoid the near occasions of sin, to wholeheartedly abandon sins to become pure and clean, worthy of God's coming and to dwell in our souls, our family and we may joyfully welcome Him to remain in our country.

Thanks be to God. Amen.