In this Gospel reading, Mary travels to see her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. When Elizabeth sees Mary, John the Baptist leaps within her. Elizabeth immediately knows this is because Mary is carrying Jesus, the son of God, in her womb.
Nobody expected that Mary—a lowly Nazarene woman—would be the person to bring the Messiah into the world. And yet Elizabeth recognizes Jesus in her. We can still recognize Jesus in our world today. He tells us that whatever we do for those who are suffering and in need, we do for him (Matthew 25:40). But it can be difficult to recognize Jesus in others—especially in those who are suffering or left out.
Monday 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Luke 1:67-79
Vigil: Isa 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matt 1:1-25
Midnight: Isa 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14
Tuesday Isa 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
Wednesday Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matt 10:17-22 Saint Stephen, The First Martyr
Thursday 1 John 1:1-4; John 20:1a, 2-8 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Friday 1 John 1:5-2:2; Matt 2:13-18 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Saturday 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35