Today's Gospel

The Wonder of Motherhood

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant. Today we have a reading from the Gospel of Luke chapter one verses 26 through 38. We had the same reading just a few days ago. And so it's an excellent opportunity to practice what we talk about, which is hearing these readings and allowing the Spirit to just stir up a word or a phrase or an idea to inspire us and to allow that to nourish us and guide us through our day. So we had the reading a few days ago, whatever word, phrase, or idea you chose to focus on that day, great. And today we look for a different word, phrase, or idea.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed of a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hey, oh, full of grace, the Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at the saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom, there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God." And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth, in her old age, has also conceived a son.

And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. But with God, nothing is impossible. And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word. And the angel departed." What jumps out at you today? I think what strikes me is these great women and the everyday reality of pregnancy and childbearing and childbirth and the great challenge and struggle and joy that comes to women through this experience. And in our lives, in our world, so many women today are pregnant. Might be having a good day, might be having a bad day, might be three weeks pregnant, might be three months pregnant, might be about to have their baby in three days. But this intimacy with their children through pregnancy is a source of, in many cases, great joy. In some cases, they're sick every day for nine months. And it really, it turns their lives upside down in so many ways. And so I think that the call today that I feel is just to pray for pregnant women.

Wherever they are in their pregnancy today, whether we know them or don't know them, let's pray for pregnant women today, that they will see God's way, that they will pray for their children, that they will raise their children in the goodness of God's ways. If they're having a great day, they rejoice in God for the joy that's coming to them. If they're having a tough day, we pray that the burden just be ease just a little. Have a great day. And remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.