The archangel Gabriel announced to Mary: "Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women" (Lk 1:28). Elizabeth prophesied and echoed the angel Gabriel's statement. However, she added: "Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42). Then she implied that the fruit of Mary's womb was God by calling Mary "the mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43). Next, Elizabeth calls Mary "blest" again because Mary "trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45). Finally, Mary prophesied the last blessing: "All ages to come shall call me blessed" (Lk 1:48).
God's word proclaims that Mary is blessed among women, the most blessed of women, blessed as the mother of God, and blessed as a woman of faith. All ages shall call her blessed. "Mary" Christmas!
| PRAYER: | Father, may I have a "Mary" Christmas. May I love Jesus as Mary does. |
| PROMISE: | "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name; His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him." –Lk 1:49-50 |
| PRAISE: | "O King of all the nations, the only Joy of every human heart, O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature You fashioned from the dust." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College