The greatness of the Lord

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
December 22, 2009

Today's Readings:
1 Sam 1:24-28
1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8abcd
Luke 1:46-56
http://www.usccb.org/nab/122209.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_12_22.mp3

The greatness of the Lord

How much does your soul joyfully proclaim the greatness of the Lord? Mary'sMagnificat, which we hear in today's Gospel reading, is a powerful prayer that we can use whenever we're rejoicing in a blessing received or when we're depressed by the need for blessings that we have not yet received.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:
Rejoice! No matter how terrible a problem is, God is greater.

My spirit rejoices in God my savior:
Rejoice! Even when I feel very unhappy, my spirit rejoices deep inside, because it knows that God is my savior. He is rescuing me even now, although I cannot yet see it nor understand how.

The Almighty has done great things for me:
Rejoice! God is doing great things for me. And he will do great things for me. And he will do great things through me. It's when I see my sufferings become valuable and useful, instead of wasted, futile destruction, that they no longer seem so terrible. Disasters have led to new life. Joy comes from giving purpose to my trials by taking what I've learned and using it in ministry for the benefit of others.

He has shown the strength of his arm and has scattered the proud in their conceit:
Rejoice! When I handle difficult people the way Jesus did, I am revealing to them his strength and his superiority. On my own, I would get rid of these people much more quickly, but then I'd miss out on seeing a greater victory. God's plans take longer than mine, because he's orchestrating everything and inviting everyone to conversion, new growth, and healing. Eventually, those who say yes to him are saved by his strength, and those who reject him stumble into the pitfalls of their own conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly:
Rejoice! In my desire to place God as my highest priority to make the ways of God my only goals, he has protected me from those who have tried to put me down. No matter what they do to me, they cannot take me away from God nor from his goodness. Although they might seem to lord it over me and win battles against me, only God is my Lord, and in the final battle, Jesus destroys all evil.

He has filled the hungry with good things:
Rejoice! I have nothing eternally valuable except that which I receive from God, and when I turn to him for nourishment, he feeds me from his great abundance. I have his patience for the troubles I experience and for the wait that I'm enduring, and I have hissupernatural love for the people who seem impossible to love.

He has come to the help of me his servant:
Rejoice! I am never alone. His love for me knows no bounds. Holy is his name!

Amen! Rejoice!

© 2009 by Terry A. Modica
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