Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

Nothing is more fascinating than the fact that God chose to live within a human being, Mary, in a way that he was truly present.

God was inside of her, growing into the fullness of a man so that He could teach and preach in a way that was beyond anyone's imagining that Jesus is the presence of God in the world. And Mary's acknowledgment of this mystery is so key to all of us, because how could she possibly imagine this happening? And it’s similar to us because we have this same mysterious process going on in us, God dwelling in us, not the same exactly as in Mary, but his presence is there and her acknowledgment, and her acceptance of it is so like what we're called to do. Whatever you want

God, if you can use me and work through me, I say let it be done just as you want it to be done.

Closing Prayer

Father, we get so caught up in the literal ways of seeing the world and not opening ourselves to mystery. Bless us with this enthusiasm in our heart that we want and expect things to be out of the line, which logic might present to us and help us to enter into the world of mystery. How is it that God was born through Mary? How is it that we share in the presence of God inside of us? Bless us with understanding, but most especially acceptance. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross