Luke 1:39-45 Reflection ~
My heart leaps for joy when I see my wife every morning, receiving Eucharist and hearing about the expectation of childbirth. My heart is warmed in the encounter of a humble, faith-filled person. The Holy Spirit’s prompting creates an invitation to talk, become brother or sister and pray together. The Spirit helps us recognize Christ in each other and adds strength to strength. This offer of Mary and Elizabeth to be blessed and to bless God is the fruit possible between ourselves and others from what God places in our unique spiritual wombs.
The Visitation James by Tissot. The full-resolution painting and more detail are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Reflection on Luke 1:39-45 – To Magnify 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 – To be Blessed and Bless God.
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.