In yesterday’s reading  the Angel Gabriel invited Mary into the plans of God for redemption and salvation of the world in the reading known as the Annunciation. Today’s gospel is a familiar part of the Christmas story. It is the first part of the Visitation reading when Mary arrives at the house of her cousin Elizabeth and the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt at the approach of the Messiah in the womb of Mary. It was a prenatal song of joy matched by Elizabeths’ outpouring of amazement and joy: “how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  In tomorrow’s reading Mary will join this growing chorus of praise in her song of the Magnificat. These are the songs of the larger song of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Continue reading →