The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
http://new.usccb.org/bible/readings/122211.cfm
1 Samuel 1:24-28
1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd
Luke 1:46-56
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
In today's gospel, we have the beautiful Magnificat, Mary's joyful greeting to her cousin Elizabeth. Surely inspired by the Holy Spirit, she speaks words that are both poetic and exultant, not because of what she has done, but what the Lord has done in and through her. She rejoices and praises God. Notice that Mary always gives the praise and attention to God, never to herself. Her humility is a perfect model for us today.
Do you take time to think about what the Lord has done in your life? Do you praise God and rejoice in the wondrous things He has done for you personally? Or do you take the credit yourself for your accomplishments? Granted, we must choose to cooperate with God to do good, just as Mary chose to cooperate with God when she agreed to become the mother of His Son Jesus. Like Mary, we have free will - we can say yes to God, or we can say no to Him. But without God's grace, we could no more do anything good than Mary could be sinless and become the Mother of God on her own. Let us cooperate with God in all things, as Mary did, and realize it is God's grace that makes it possible for us to do anything good, even the smallest thing.
O Lord,
Help me to remember that all good things originate in You, who are infinitely good. I give You the praise for any good that I do, and for any good thing that happens to me. Thank You, O Lord, for Your love and mercy poured out in my life day by day, hour by hour.
Amen.
::: Mary Nadeau | email: marynadeau(at)verizon(dot)net