Today's liturgy includes two possibilities for the Old Testament reading. The first of these is an extract from the Song of Songs that we hear most often during weddings. The opening words of this particular passage evoke images of two young lovers who are playing: Hark, my lover, here he comes, springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills ... he stands behind our wall and gazes through the windows ... and says to me: 'Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come!' (Song of Songs 2:8-10).
These days that immediately precede the celebration of Christmas can seem to be overwhelming for many of us, so it might help to take just a moment to remember that in the midst of our busy-ness, God is springing across mountains, leaping across hills ... doing anything he can to get our attention, inviting us to be aware of the precious gift he has to offer: the gift of a personal loving and forgiving relationship for each of us with Him. Once we have discovered the beauty of this gift, we are filled with joy and want to go running like Mary to share the good news that we have experienced with others.
Today, let us ask our Mother Mary and Saint Elizabeth to inspire within us the exceeding joy that they experienced in her respective encounters with God. Mary's joy drove her to visit with her cousin, to help her with her own pregnancy, but together, they also shared the songs of praise that were in their own hearts with one another. May Mary teach us to listen for the songs of praise that are echoing in our hearts, and may Elizabeth inspire us to be attentive to the joy that resides at our very core, at times even seeming to leap within us (cf Lk 1:41).
Have a great day.
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