The Institute for Christian Formation
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Advent Weekday
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
The Gospel proclaimed yesterday was the Annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).  Today’s Gospel (Luke 39-45) picks up where yesterday’s concluded.  In today’s Gospel, Mary is taking off in a hurry.  Her destination is the town of Judah, where she will visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah.  When Mary greets Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth’s womb (John the Baptist) leaps with joy.  This is a pivotal moment – the first “meeting” of John the Baptist and Jesus, even though both are still in the womb.

We most likely repeat the words of Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary every day in our prayer, as this greeting eventually found it’s way into the “Hail Mary” prayer: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

With only a few days left in our Advent journey for this Year of Grace 2017, let us reflect on Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth.   It  would have been a difficult
James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). The Visitation (La visitation), 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 6 7/8 x 4 5/8 in. (17.5 x 11.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.18
and dangerous journey for a young woman to take by herself.  Yet Luke’s Gospel makes no mention of anyone accompanying Mary on this journey.  What do you think Mary was thinking about at this time?  Why do you think that once the Archangel Gabriel departed from Mary after the annunciation, Mary departed and went in haste on a difficult journey?  Why do you think it was Elizabeth whom Mary chose to visit?  If you were Mary, what do you think you would you have done after the Archangel Gabriel departed from you?  If you were Elizabeth, what do you think your reaction would have been to Mary’s arrival at your home?  What do you think Zechariah made of this visit?
Invite children to create a picture of Mary and Elizabeth greeting each other. Under the picture, at the bottom of the page, have them write the words which Elizabeth said in response to Mary’s greeting.  Explain to children that today’s Gospel is called “The Visitation” and is the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.  To tie in today’s “O Antiphon” (see below), you could also invite children to draw a sunrise as part of their picture.

Our “O Antiphon” for December 21 is “O Radiant Dawn,” or in Latin, “O Oriens.”  Read Malachi 3:20, and listen to today’s Antiphon in Latin below. 
Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Feast (optional memorial): December 21

Saint Peter Canisius was a Dutch Jesuit catechist and missionary and was a leader in counter-reformation Germany. He organized the Jesuit province in Germany, and founded several colleges. He wrote "Institutiones Christianae Pietatis."  Saint Peter Canisius died in 1597.  He is known as the Second Apostle of Germany.