Open wide your arms

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Readings: SG 2:8-14; PS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; LK 1:39-45
Notes: All week we contemplate righteous men and woman at the Advent of the Lord (full 4th week Advent).

At the Homily this past Sunday, I asked this question:

Q: How do you receive a hug?
A: You have to open your arms wide.

Emmanuel comes to you a baby. Open wide your arms to receive him!

Mary, the proto-deacon, faithful exemplar, Mother of God, her first act is to act in charity!

• Righteous Mary, dispenser of divine charity. For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
• Righteous woman Elizabeth, gratitude and humility in her hour of need.

DIAKONIA

The biblical Greek word for service. As such it applies to all manner of ministry (official) or assistance (unofficial) that a person may perform or render either to the Church in general or to some private individual.

From: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=33072

First reading
“O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.”

Responsorial Psalm
Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Alleluia Verse
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

Gospel Portion
Set-up: And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.

Today’s gospel portion:
Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Service, humility and gratitude.

Open wide your arms to receive the baby Jesus!

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry