Daily Gospel Reflection

What Is Your Song of Praise?

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant where we're exploring the daily gospel. We're looking for a word or a phrase or an idea to anchor our day in the life and teachings of Jesus. Today's reading is from Luke 1:39-56. Again, it's one of those famous readings. So it's important that we focus on in, we look for a new level.

"In those days, Mary arose and went with all haste into the hill country to the city of Judah. And she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe lept for joy in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why is this granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb lept for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.' And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has regarded the lowest state of his handmaiden for behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.' And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home."

There's so much here. You don't even have to get far into this reading for there to be so much. It begins, "In those days, Mary arose and went with all haste." When is the last time you did something with all haste that was for God, that was for others, that was the will of God? "Mary arose and went with all haste." So you don't have to get too far into it. But what jumped out at me today was the idea that Mary says in her great canticle of praise here, she says, "For the mighty one has done great things for me. For he who is mighty has done great things for me." She isn't confused about who's doing the great things. She isn't confused about who's done the great things. She isn't confused that she's done some magnificent herself. She isn't confused who the giver of the gifts is. And I think it's good for us today to reflect on what are the mighty things that the Mighty One has done for us? What are the great things God has done for you and me? And do we take time from time to time to pause and to give thanks, to praise God, for He has done great things for us. Have an amazing day. Remember, be bold, be Catholic.