Today’s gospel: Luke 1:39-45
God had done a miraculous wonder in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth had conceived in her old age and barrenness. Mary had conceived by the action of the Holy Spirit. Now Mary, awed by all this, “set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah” (v.39) in order to see Elizabeth. Here we see two missionary families of Christ at work.
When we talk of being missionary, we naturally think of going to some far off land to proclaim Christ. This certainly is true, but before we even go off to meet strangers in strange lands, we evangelize in the normal day-to-day circumstances of our lives, starting with our own family and relatives.
Our work is all about God using families to reach other families. In this case, we have two mothers and two sons. These two sons would later go on to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. But before that, they would be raised and formed in the home. The most basic institution for raising the generations of the people of God is the family, and the most basic school of formation is the home. In living Christ in the home, we start with our very young children. In fact, even while still in the womb, we are already praying for our unborn children. The unborn are already being evangelized and introduced to Jesus. In the encounter of Elizabeth with Mary, “the infant leaped in her womb” (v.41a).
Missionary families are all about Christ. Christ is at the center of the family and home, and salvation in Christ is the good news that is to be preached. If so, then missionary families need to be of Christ, that is, belonging to Christ and serving Christ. Elizabeth immediately recognized that Mary was “the mother of my Lord” (v.43). And as we accept Christ, we will be “filled with the holy Spirit.” (v.41b). It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to go off on mission.
We all want what is good for our families, for our children and our children’s children. We will be blessed as we allow ourselves to be used by God to be a blessing to others. Mary and her unborn Son, that is, a family, traveled to another town to interact with Elizabeth and her unborn son, that is, went on mission. Just like the Holy Family, those families, both parents and children, who allow themselves to be used by God will be greatly blessed. “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (v.42).
Being missionary families of Christ is God’s way to enjoy the fullness of joy in the Christian life, a life of commitment to God and to His service. Just like John the Baptist, even the unborn child in such a family would leap for joy (v.44).
Do you want to be blessed? Do you want to be filled with joy? Then be missionary families of Christ. God chooses you, calls you and sends you to go forth. As has been with our Mother Mary, so will it be done unto those who respond. “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (v.45).
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