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Lord.” The baby who leaped for joy was John the Baptist who would grow
up to become the itinerant Jewish preacher announcing the coming of the
one who was “greater” than himself. I love that the Church’s choice of this
reading about the reunion of Mary and Elizabeth, two very strong women
facing the unknown in the company of one another, comes on the shortest
day of the year, a day that reminds us that out of darkness comes light. As
the mother of three women and the granddaughter of three girls, I am so
grateful that these “prophets” heralding the arrival of the messiah are both
women.
Prayer
On today, of all days, the first part of the Magnificat, the canticle of Mary, is
an appropriate prayer for us: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly
servant. From
this day all gen-
erations will call
me blessed: the
Almighty has
done great
things for me,
and holy is his
name.”
_______
Jane Argento