Heavens, let the dew fall, let the clouds rain down the righteous; let the earth open, and let the Savior spring forth! (Is 45:8)

 

Heavens, let the dew fall, let the clouds rain down the righteous; let the earth open, and let the Savior spring forth! (Is 45:8)

Thanks to the yes of the mother of the Lord, we are gathered for the Eucharist, the memorial of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. With Elizabeth, we proclaim Mary blessed among women and Jesus the blessed fruit of her womb. Let us rejoice with the holy women for the imminent coming of the Son of God, who is our peace.

First Reading: Micah 5:1-4

The One who fully fulfilled the divine will and was promised from all eternity comes to us. Following the example of Elizabeth and Mary, let us welcome the Lord, present in the Word that is about to be proclaimed.

A reading from the prophecy of Micah – Thus says the Lord: 1“You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though small among the thousands of villages of Judah, from you will come one who will be ruler in Israel; his origins are from ancient times, from ancient times. 2 God will abandon his people until the time when a mother gives birth; and the remnant of his brothers will turn to the children of Israel. 3 He will not turn back, but he will shepherd them with the strength of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will live in peace, for he will now extend his power to the ends of the earth, 4 and he himself will be peace.” – The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 79(80)

Let your face shine upon us, / turn us back, so that we may be saved!

1. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel. † You who enthrone the cherubim, / appear in glory and splendor! / Awaken your strength, O our God, / and come quickly to bring us salvation! – R.

2. Turn to us, O God of hosts! † Look down from heaven and behold. / Visit your vineyard and protect it! / Your right hand planted it; / protect it and the shoot you have established! – R.

3. Lay your hand on your beloved, / the son of man whom you have chosen for yourself; / and we will never leave you, O Lord God! / Give us life, and we will praise your name! – R.

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews – Brothers and sisters, 5when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. 6Burn offerings and sacrifices for sin were not your pleasure. 7That is why I said, ‘Here I am, I come; in the book it is written about me: I have come to do your will, O God.’” 8After saying, “You did not desire sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sin offerings”—the kind offered according to the law—and you did not desire them. 9He then adds, “I have come to do your will.” In doing so, he abolishes the first sacrifice in order to establish the second. 10By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. – The word of the Lord.

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; / may your word be fulfilled in me! (Luke 1:38) – R.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke – 39In those days Mary set out for the hill country, hurriedly going to a town in Judea. 40She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42With a loud cry she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43How can I be worthy that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who believed that what the Lord had promised her would be fulfilled.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Driven by the Good News (she carries the Savior in her womb), Mary hurriedly walked to Elizabeth’s house. There was a meeting of two pregnant mothers. Elizabeth was carrying a boy, whose name (John) was given to him by the angel of the Lord and who came with the definite mission of preparing for the coming of the Messiah. Mary was carrying Jesus, the “Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:32). When the two mothers meet, the babies manifest themselves: Elizabeth’s baby moves joyfully in her womb; Mary’s blessed fruit, through the voice of his Mother, radiates the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth, having recognized God’s action in her favor, feels filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaims Mary’s qualification in a loud voice: “Blessed among women” and “Mother of my Lord.” And she exclaims the first beatitude, united to the act of believing: “Blessed is she who believed.”

(Daily with the Gospel 2024)