Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1, 39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
            my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
            for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
            the Almighty has done great things for me,
            and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
            in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
            he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
            and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
            and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
            for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
            the promise he made to our fathers,
            to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home

Mary lifts us up

1) Set out in haste. Mary has all this youthful enthusiasm; she is full of hope and avidness because what she is living is something extraordinary and she also knows that what is happening to Elizabeth is something that escapes predictable, normal life. So, get excited again, regain your enthusiasm! Your mission in this world has not finished yet. Do not feel down; don’t waste time turning ideas around in your head. You have a mission, you must proclaim Jesus with your life, just as Mary did. Keep going even if you come across a bumpy patch, like not getting a job, not knowing what will happen in your country, dealing with difficult people or living with them, and so on. Don’t let those things take away the joy of your mission and the passion of life. No one can take this away from you. Nobody can rob you of the joy of giving your life with enthusiasm.

2) The baby in her womb leaped for joy. What a beautiful image! See how God touches the life of Elizabeth and John; two lives touched by joy. I know that joy is something that is hard to have every day; and I don’t mean a smile or laugh, but rather the positive attitude to find a solution to things; to jump into life and really live. Today, ask Mary to help you to be joyful, to bring happiness and enthusiasm into your life and into the lives of those around you. Don’t be a pessimist or a sad Christian, remember that you are taking Jesus to others.

3) Happy. If we take a look at Mary, we will understand that happiness is not about having it all; happiness is knowing that you have “All” in your life. God loves you the way you are. Do not stop looking up towards Him, seek happiness, knowing that it is through struggle and humility that everything is achieved. You must understand that you are in need of God and that’s how you find your greatness. Mary takes you to Jesus. Today, ask Mary for the joy to be able to give, peace to face difficulties, and faith to continue striving to be happy.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Always remember that Heaven is our goal