DAILY HOMILIES #Elizabeth

We get to hear about Mary’s pregnancy from Elizabeth's mouth. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). Elizabeth introduces Mary to the world as the woman who is blessed among all women. Elizabeth and Angel Gabriel gave us the “Hail Mary” prayer.

Dear friends, if God knows our name before birth, he knew about us when we were formed in our mother’s womb. Abortion is the greatest act of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. By killing an unborn baby, we deny them the chance to live out God’s plans. No justification exists for taking anyone’s life, even if it is just a day old in the womb.

Indeed, life is not balanced. No one has it all rosy. Virtually everyone alive today is going through something. However, we can learn from Mary’s visit to look beyond our challenges and difficulties. Let us know to place ourselves in the shoes of others. If you hear something good about others, go and visit them. If you hear something terrible, still visit them; talk to them before you start spreading the news (damaging their names).

God is not pleased with the Proud. God does not recognize those who believe that they are self-made; those who live as if God is not necessary; those who never go down on their knees to pray; those who consider going to church as a waste of time; those who depend on themselves or on other people rather than God. One quality of proud people is that they consider Thanksgiving a waste of time or money.

Be careful of who you laugh at! God can shock you. Why should you even be laughing at your fellow human being? Who are you to write someone off? Why label a person with their painful condition? So, because this guy is always calling to ask for help, you saved his number with “begi-begi-beggar? Watch out oh!

As soon as Mary heard, she immediately put herself in Elizabeth’s shoes, she knew the old woman needed help and she ran as fast as she could to volunteer. She forgot herself, she didn’t consider that she had just become the Mother of God and was carrying the King of Kings in her womb, she ran to become a servant, a slave, an errand girl to Elizabeth. Mary was with Elizabeth for three months meaning she remained till Elizabeth delivered her baby before returning back home. If not for the fact that Mary herself was also pregnant, I am sure she would have stayed longer. Let us not be bothered with our own problems that we become blind and deaf to the cries of people around us. Learn to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Learn from Mary to humble yourself and come to the aid of people. Begin to visit people today.

There may a lot of things to complain about in your life, you may have a lot of reasons to be angry with God but remember that if you still have the power to speak, use your lips to praise God.

Elizabeth was not a priest nor was she a scholar but by the Holy Spirit, she became a Dogmatic Theologian; she defined the doctrine of Mary as the Mother of God, and she began active devotion to Mary. This is why we must constantly pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

What is Christmas? God stooped low to our level. He came not as a warrior but as a baby – humility. Learn to forget your wealth, decrees and qualifications and try to stoop low to help as many people as you can. Then you will be truly be celebrating Christmas.

The people wondered: “What will this child turn out to be?” This is the same question we should ask ourselves each time we come across little children. Every child deserves respect, care and love because you can never know what the future of that child would be. This little baby you see today may one day be your life-saver.

And the secret of life is this: when you help someone carry his cross, yours become lighter. If you think life is hard, look around you and you will see those dreaming to be given twice of your problems in exchange for theirs. Be like Mary, reach out, visit, help, don’t be self-centred.

Once he gained his power of speech again, Zechariah knew this was no ordinary child. He knew at once that this was not merely a product of his body but the work of God. He knew immediately that this child was the one spoken of by the prophet Malachi as the “messenger to prepare the way before me.” (Today’s first reading). Zechariah opened his mouth to sing a song of thanksgiving.