St. Peter Canisius, priest & doctor 

*** 1st Reading ***

Song of Fongs 2:8-14  (or Zephaniah 3:14-18a)

The voice of my lover!

Behold he comes, springing across the mountains, jumping over the hills,  like a gazelle or a young stag. Now he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows,

peering through the lattice.  My lover speaks to me,  “Arise, my love, my beautiful one!  Come, the winter is gone, the rains are over.

 Flowers have appeared on earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard.  The fig tree forms its early fruit, the vines in blossom are fragrant. Arise, my beautiful one, come with me, my love, come.

O my dove in the rocky cleft, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice. Your face – how lovely! Your voice – how sweet!”

 

Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

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

 

**** Gospel ****

Luke 1:39-45

 Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

 How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who be­lieved that the Lord’s word would come true!”

 

Gospel Reflection

The sun rises from the East. A new dawn begins in the East. The Magi will follow the star from the East until they shall kneel before the new born king of Israel. The beautiful reading from the Song of Solomon depicts the joy of the Beloved hearing the voice of the Lover!

The Lover, God, woos the Beloved, man. The days of waiting for the Lover are coming to an end. Behold, like a gazelle or a young stag He comes! The new dawn began when the lovely woman of Nazareth welcomed the message of the Angel that she would be the mother of God.

Elizabeth, her cousin, confirms the beginning of the new dawn! The babe in her womb, John the Baptist, recognized the Messiah and so he (John) leaped for joy! Indeed “winer is gone, the rains are over” and Spring be gins! Flowers are abloom!

There is cause for great joy ! Advent will soon give way to the joy of Christmas! Let us wait for the new dawn, the Sun rising from the Orient!