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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for December 20, 2023

THE SCHOOL OF MARY

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." –Luke 1:35

Mary is a model disciple. She is worthy of being imitated.

• As the maidservant of the Lord (Lk 1:38), Mary did God's will, no matter what it entailed.
• She welcomed the Holy Spirit when the Spirit overshadowed her (Lk 1:35). Accordingly, she ministered with the Spirit's power and gifts during her visit to Sts. Zechariah and Elizabeth. After three months in Mary's school, Zechariah's mouth was opened to speak a prophecy that the Church repeats daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (Lk 1:68-79).
• Mary gave her body to the Lord (Lk 1:38). So many people these days will not let the Lord have their body. Often in today's me-first culture, we hear: "It's my body, and my choice of what I do with it."
• Mary regarded her body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20) and lived a holy lifestyle.
• She was pure and holy. Her Child was "holy" (Lk 1:35). We disciples of Jesus are to likewise be pure (1 Jn 3:3) and holy (1 Pt 1:16).
• Mary was a prophetess. She prophesied her Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55), which the Church likewise prays daily in the Liturgy of the Hours.

As Christmas approaches, enroll in Mary's school of discipleship. Learn a lesson from the model disciple.

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Acknowledgement

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