Sunday 22 December 2024

Today is Sunday the 22nd of December, beginning the 4th week of Advent.


The Brilliance sings, ‘Oh Gracious Light’:
‘Dayspring of life
To light from light
Pour into every broken heart
Peace and virtue binded by the light’
(Lyrics currently unavailable)

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1:39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

In this passage we witness the story of the Visitation, where Mary, newly pregnant with Jesus, visits her cousin Elizabeth. This passage is rich with themes of joy, faith, and the mystery of God’s hand in our life.

How might this scene inform your own Advent journey? As Mary travels with faith and trust, what does it mean to trust in God's promise, even, especially, if the road ahead is unknown?

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

In this moment, we are invited to recognise and rejoice, just as Elizabeth did. Where is God moving in your life, perhaps in hidden or unexpected ways?

Mary’s visitation is not just a visit—it is an act of love and service. We see that Mary seeks to support her cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps she embodies a spirit of service during this season of Advent?

Reflect on a time when you have acted as Mary, attending to another’s need, or, like Elizabeth, received the unexpected care of another.

As you listen to the passage again, reflect on the fact that, during Advent, we are invited to consider our own faith. Do we trust in God’s promises, even when we cannot see how they will unfold?

“Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfil what he had spoken to her.”

Mary’s profound faith in God’s promise is a model for our own. In a time of prayer, listen deeply to the movements of the Spirit in your life and ask for the gift to respond generously to God’s call.

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus