School of the Word
Come, Lord Jesus, Bring Us Joy, 3/3
by Maureen
Passages:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness
should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests
known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will
guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to
a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her
womb, and 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? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my
ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on 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.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke 1: 39-55
Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light
born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we
are infinitely loved. I understand the grief of people who have to endure
great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith
slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress
(EG6)
Reflections:
- How does God want to bring me the gift of joy this Advent season?
- How am I invited to share the joy of meeting the Lord this festive season?
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