Joyful Anticipation of the Messiah

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 1:39-45)

Sabado (Disyembre 21)

Sa tapos sadto si Maria nanghimos kag nagdalidali sa pagkadto sa isa ka banwa sa kabakuloran sang Judea.

Nagkadto sia sa balay ni Zacarias kag iya gin-abiabi si Elisabet.

Sang pagkabati ni Elisabet sang pag-abiabi ni Maria, nagkibo ang bata sa iya tiyan. Napun-an si Elisabet sang Espiritu Santo, kag sa mabaskog nga tingog naghmbal, "Bulahan ikaw sa tanan nga mga babayi! Bulahan ang bata nga imo ginadala!

Ngaa matabo ining daku nga butang sa akon, nga ang iloy sang akon Ginoo magduaw sa akon? 

Kay sang pagkabati ko gid sang imo pag-abiabi, ang bata sa akon tiyan nagkibo sa kalipay.

Bulahan ikaw nga nagtuo nga matuman sa imo ang ginsiling sang Ginoo."

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All."

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Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Do you recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus in your life? Blessed are you if you see and recognize the Lord with the "eyes of faith". The word "blessed" [makarios in Greek] literally means "happiness" or "beatitude". It describes a kind of joy which is serene and untouchable, self-contained, and independent from chance and changing circumstances of life. There is a certain paradox for those "blessed" by the Lord. Mary was given the "blessedness" of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. Anselm, a great teacher and Archbishop of Canterbury (1033-1109), spoke these words in a homily: "Without God's Son nothing could exist; without Mary's son, nothing could be redeemed." To be chosen by God is an awesome privilege and responsibility. Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. Her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take away. Do you know the joy of a life given over to God in faith and trust?

What is the significance of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth before the birth of Jesus? When Elizabeth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfilment of God's promise to give a Savior. What a marvelous wonder for God to fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child in her womb as well. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Do you live in the joy and knowledge of God's indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit?