Nov 29.pub

1 Samuel 1:24-28

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD

Luke 1:46-56

Summary

Seemingly barren Hannah was blessed with a son Samuel. Once Sam-

uel was old enough Hannah returned him to the Lord. She left Samu-

el in the care of Eli.

The psalmist sings: My heart exults in the Lord my Savior.

Today's gospel is the powerful proclamation of the Magnificat.

Reflection

It's been a very long time since we had for complete weeks of Ad-

vent. As the liturgists plan the readings during the Advent season

seems that towards the end they included numerous stories about

Mary, Mary and Elizabeth, and the powerful prayer proclaimed by

Mary the Magnificat.

Mary extols God for what God is doing for women and men

through her child. She says that every generation will call her

blessed. Truly that is true of this generation. In addition to speaking

about herself as being a lowly servant she continues to speak of op-

posites. We fear God-- God a strong. The conceited are scattered,

it's hard to be conceited when you're by yourself. The powerful

will be made low. The lowly will be honored. The hungry will be

fed in the well fed will be hungry.

So what does this mean to us? General-

ly speaking we are wealthy, never really

hungry, and living in one of the wealthi-

est countries on earth. Does that mean

our place in heaven will be low? Or will

we may not make it at all?