"mary" christmas
"All ages to come shall call me blessed." —Luke 1:48
The archangel Gabriel announced to Mary: "Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women" (Lk 1:28). Elizabeth prophesied and echoed the angel Gabriel's statement. However, she added: "Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42). Then she implied that the fruit of Mary's womb was God by calling Mary "the mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43). Next, Elizabeth calls Mary "blest" again because Mary "trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45). Finally, Mary prophesied the last blessing: "All ages to come shall call me blessed" (Lk 1:48).
God's word proclaims that Mary is blessed among women, the most blessed of women, blessed as the mother of God, and blessed as a woman of faith. All ages shall call her blessed. "Mary" Christmas!
Prayer: Father, may I have a "Mary" Christmas. May I love Jesus as Mary does.
Promise: "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name; His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him." —Lk 1:49-50
Praise: "O King of all the nations, the only Joy of every human heart, O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature You fashioned from the dust."
Reference: (Have a "Mary" Christmas every year by reading the Bible every day. We have several tape series to help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three videotapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2009
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