Mary Visits Elizabeth
OPENING PRAYER
O God, we thank you for LOVING us so much that you sent your Only Begotten Son to save us. May we learn, love, and share this beautiful Story of Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth with others that they may grow in your LOVE and share it with others. In your Holy Name we pray, AMEN.
GOSPEL: Luke 1::39-45
39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
ACTIVITIES and REFLECTIONS:
VIDEO
Share this video with the children:
LECTIO DIVINA
READ
Read the Gospel two or three times.
MEDITATION
What word or words in this passage caught your attention?
What in this passage comforted you?
What in this passage challenged you?
PRAYER
Read the Scripture passage one more time . Bring to the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that the Word inspires in you.
CONTEMPLATiON
Read the passage again. What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of you?
Elizabeth says to Mary: "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to yu by the Lord would be fulfilled."
Where in your life do you need more faith and TRUST? Will you ask God for help?
ROSARY
The Joyful Mysteries: The Visitation:
Fruit of the Mystery: Love of Neighbor
The second of the Joyful Mysteries focuses on Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth from our Sunday Gospel. Take time to pray this mystery as you prepare your heart for Sunday Mass. As you pray the mystery experience the VIRTUE of God's LOVE for others growing in you.
REFLECTION: VIRTUE: Love of Neighbor
On the 4th Sunday of Advent we light the fourth candle representing God's LOVE for us that we might LOVE others in the same way.
God's Son, Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. God is LOVE.
Mary was filled with LOVE in her womb. She was filled to overflowing with God's LOVE and was led by the Holy Spirit to go IMMEDIATELY to visit her relative Elizabeth who was 6 months pregnant with John. They both knew deep in their hearts that they were an important part of God's mighty plan to prepare us ALL to live in God's Kingdom now and forever.
They provided mutual nurture for one another over the next three months until John the Baptist was born. This was the friendship and care they both needed.
The Holy Spirit guided Mary to seek out Elizabeth, a woman of wisdom, faith, and trust. We ALL need someone like that in our lives. We all can be that person for others too.
Where in your life do you experience this kind of mutual nurture?
Ask the Lord to guide you to find or strengthen these mutual nurturing friendships as you continue to learn and grow in your FAITH.
FOR YOUR PRAYER and REFLECTION
Read Sirach 6:14-17. Mary may have prayed with these words as she prepared to see Elizabeth.
Ask yourself. What person in my life is helping me trust God?
14 A loyal friend is like a safe shelter; find one, and you have found a treasure.
15 Nothing is as valuable; there is no way of putting a price on it.
16 A loyal friend is like a medicine that keeps you in good health.
Only those who fear the Lord can find such a friend.
17. A person who fears the Lord can make real friendships, because he will treat his friends as he does himself.
UNDERSTAND IT
A good friend is one of life' best gifts. A friend keeps you from being lonely. You work, play, and laugh together. When you need help, a good friend is there for you. A really good friend is someone who helps you to be the best person you can be.
The Book of Sirach (SER-ak) says that the secret to finding a good friend is to live according to God's Commandments. That way you will be a good person yourself. you will love God and love others. Your love and goodness will make people want to be with you. In other words, you will find a good friend by being a good friend to others.
LIVE IT
At the top of a piece of paper, write the names of some of your good friends. under this write some things that good friends do for each other. Then ask God to bless your friends and to help you be a good friend.
TELL IT
Using the pictures below, retell this reading in your own words.
CLOSING PRAYER
Hail Mary Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee
Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death AMEN.
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