Gospel Reflection  Lk 1:39-45
The Gospel passages of the second and third weeks of Advent this year featured John the Baptist in his role of preparing the way for the coming of Jesus; the one who announces the arrival of the Christ. In this week’s passage, which goes back to an earlier point in the Gospel of Luke, we might say that the as yet unborn John is already recognising the presence of the Christ. When Mary goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, the child within Elizabeth’s womb – John – leaps for joy. At the time of the Annunciation, when Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she was to give birth to a child, Mary is also told that Elizabeth and Zechariah, although very old, were to also give birth to a child. Mary rushes to visit Elizabeth, not to make sure that the angel was telling her the truth but because the fact that Elizabeth was also pregnant was a sign of confirmation to Mary that she had indeed made the right decision. Elizabeth’s unlikely pregnancy confirms for Mary the even greater truth of her own pregnancy. These two women, separated by age and distance, share a common experience of God acting in their lives to bring about unlikely events. The lives of their two children will be inextricably linked such that the one who leapt for joy in his mother’s womb will eventually baptise the other and announce the arrival of His ministry to the people of Israel.

The joy expressed by Elizabeth and her child reflects the joy of all people of faith as we draw so close to the celebration of Christmas and the greatest expression of God’s love – to enter into the world as one just like us and share our experience.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

3th Sunday in Advent  Year B

http://www.prayingwithchildren.org/9ip0dh478.html

Thank you!

Thank you for the generous donations to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal, Vinnies were very appreciative of our combined generosity as a community.

First Eucharist Congratulations!

We pray for those students who will be making their First Eucharist during the holiday break.

Dec 26^th- Lady Sapphire

Jan 9^th Lucy A

Jan 16^th Olivia F and Jess G

Jan 23^rd Jeremy D

Blessings,

Francoise Garrett

Acting Religious Education Coordinator