Magnify the Lord – Luke 1:39-45 Reflection
When you hear someone is happily expecting childbirth, doesn’t your heart flutter and leap for joy for them? Most likely, the feeling happens when you see not just your children and grandchildren but all children. Can you feel your heart pumping when you encounter faith-filled Christians? Isn’t this also so when you are with people of other strong faiths or receiving Jesus in Word or Eucharist? The Holy Spirit’s prompting creates an invitation to talk, become brother or sister, and pray together. In addition, the Spirit helps us recognize Christ-like behavior in each other and to magnify the Lord. This offer of Mary and Elizabeth to be blessed and to bless God is the same for us. It is the fruit possible from our unique human and spiritual being and doing together.
The Visitation James by Tissot. (Full-resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Reflection on Luke 1:39-45 – To be Blessed and to Bless the Lord
Luke 1:39-45 – Scripture*
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 1:39-45 Reflection – Magnify the Lord.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 1 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Mark 3 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.