The World Turned Upside-Down
advent to epiphany - day 26

Today’s readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56

When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and half a bushel of flour and some wine. After sacrificing the bull, they took the child to Eli. "Sir, do you remember me?" Hannah asked. "I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD. I asked the LORD to give me this child, and he has given me my request. Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life." And they worshiped the LORD there.

The Magnificat: Mary's Song of Praise

Mary responded,

"Oh, how I praise the Lord.

How I rejoice in God my Savior!

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and now generation after generation
will call me blessed.

For he, the Mighty One, is holy,
and he has done great things for me.

His mercy goes on from generation to generation,
to all who fear him.

His mighty arm does tremendous things!
How he scatters the proud and haughty ones!

He has taken princes from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.

And how he has helped his servant Israel!
He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful.

For he promised our ancestors—Abraham and his children—
to be merciful to them forever."

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

Today we pray along with Mary, the Mother of God, her magnificat. It is a prayer of praise, of awe at the power of God to steer history in God’s direction. The lowly are important in God’s eyes. The rich go away empty-handed. What is God telling us today?

-- Catholic Update, “Advent Reflections: Longing for Peace”

taken from advent to epiphany: celebrating the Christmas Season

i am not catholic, but i have a friend in texas that made me think about this, and i think it is cool.