Mother of God

Faced with the mysterious figure of John the Baptist last week, the people asked:

What should we do? (Luke 3)

John appeals to our conscience:

Be generous with your possessions. Be honest and just in your work. Don’t intimidate or manipulate people.

Today we have another important question, but this one is not about conscience, but arouses our religious sensibilities.

Mary of Nazareth has said yes to God. She is to be the Mother of the Lord. No sooner has this all happened, then Mary sets off on a journey to see her cousin Elisabeth, who, in her old age, has conceived a child.

After her seven-day sojourn on foot, Mary knocks on the door of Elisabeth’s home. In tune with the Holy Spirit, Elisabeth is unconstrained, and declaims:

Why should I be honoured with a visit from the Mother of my Lord? (Luke 1)

In what way have we welcomed Mary of Nazareth – Mother of God – into our homes and our lives?

A simple image of the Virgin Mother of God should be located in a fitting place in our homes.

The daily recital of the Memorare?

Good enough for Elisabeth. Good enough for us.

Amen.