Monday of the fourth week of Advent

Opening Prayer

God, let your healing light shine on me, bringing harmony to my inner being, as I open my heart to your word.

Scripture

Luke 1:46-56, Magnificat

And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Reflection

In this poetic and prayerful prayer, Mary’s recognition of God’s love burst out of her as she greets her cousin Elizabeth. They support each other in this time of uncertainty and with trust that brings joy. Mary was a humble woman, neither from a wealthy background nor of obvious social status. So external circumstances aren’t always an indicator of God’s favour. In this passage, the lowly and poor are portrayed as close to God’s heart.  Our inner life is important, which helps us to have a personal and unique relationship with him. When I reflect on how I pray, after giving thanks and praise, my thoughts turn to my family and loved ones. Their welfare has an impact on me and my ability to have joy. Our love for God and our neighbour is connected; it is hard not to be affected by the injustices and suffering in the world that we see on our TV screens. The Magnificat encourages us to recognise God’s presence in our daily encounters, counting our blessings, embracing humility and hope for a just and compassionate world. I imagine that God’s joy comes from knowing that his creation has what they need, and no one uses their power to exclude others. As we pray the Magnificat today, can her words become our words? Can her prayer become our prayer? 

What can we do about bringing God’s vision for our world, recognising his gentle nudges, to help him in his work of building a better world?

Reflection Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to recognise your presence in the people I meet each day.
Like Mary, teach me to build community through kindness and humility.
Help me show gratitude through my words and actions, and keep me open to your joy in my encounters with others

Concluding Prayer     

“Let us never tire of knocking at God’s door. Every day, through Mary, let us carry our entire life to God’s heart! Knock at the door of God’s heart! Mary prays; she prays together with the community of disciples, and she teaches us to have complete trust in God, in his mercy. This is the power of prayer!”

– Pope Francis