These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. (Lc 1:46-56)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122223.cfm
In its wisdom, the church places Mary’s hymn of praise on our lips so that each day we sing the praises of the One “who casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, who fills the hungry with good things, and sends the rich away empty.” As someone once observed, if you want to keep Christ in Christmas, then feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you. O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save humanity, whom you formed from the dust!
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? Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (LK 1:39-45)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122123.cfm
In the church’s devotion to the Word of God, we pray the words of Elizabeth to Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.” O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
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. (Lk 1:26-38)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122023.cfm
My spiritual director, Fr Joe McCloskey, used to say about the Incarnation, that the whole universe held its breath to hear the response of Mary to the Angel. May we also say YES to God so that Christ can be born in us. O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!
Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." (Lk 1:5-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121923.cfm
The contrast between the two annunciation stories in Luke’s Gospel is profound. The striking contrast between the priest Zechariah who refuses to believe, and Mary the young woman of Nazareth who trusts “that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled” captures the heart. O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." (Mt 1:1-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121823.cfm
“Do not be afraid.” In the encounter with God we need to hear these words, because like Moses, we are standing on Holy Ground. O Mighty Lord, and leader of the house of Israël, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and on Sinai gave him the law, come to redeem us with outstretched arm.
