Gospel for the Day: Elizabeth

The annotations of the New American Bible suggests that when Luke writes that Elizabeth says this: "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled," he was referring to the contrast between Mary, her cousin and Zechariah, her husband.

Both Mary and Zechariah were given the same message: Elizabeth is pregnant. But while Mary trusted and verified, Zechariah doubted. 

Maybe it was because, unlike Mary, Zechariah was full of bitterness and not grace as I argue here. Maybe Mary was still generous because she was still young. Maybe it was because Mary was full of grace. 


In the Gospels, there's a lot of talk about being prepared for death and in some parts, it's about being prepared for the end-of-times. Maybe the story of Zechariah and Mary (conveniently bundled up in Luke Chapter 1) just tells us that we also need to be prepared to accept unusual messages from God. 


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I pray for (and with) the souls of the dearly departed of Sendong who did not have time to prepare for their untimely death. I pray for the souls of those they left behind. (Untimely) Deaths are always tough on those left behind.