RAPID ACTION



















In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”   And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Today’s passage speaks about a deeply personal moment in the lives of two holy women, Elizabeth and Mary. They are both pregnant with child, and both children are miraculous. Elizabeth conceives in her old age when her womb is barren (see Luke 1:7). And Mary, of course, conceives by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 1:35).  Now both women would be perfectly justified to be absorbed with themselves and the baby they were carrying. However, they put aside personal agendas to be with each other, to support each other in their time of need. Mary, in fact, “went with haste” to be with her relative, so eager was she to help Elizabeth. That’s rapid action! 

It would be nice if “rapid action” described the way we did good things too. But unfortunately although we are pretty quick when it comes to doing worldly things, when it comes to doing spiritual things we are rather laid back. So let us think about something that might spur us on. Just like Mary carried Jesus within her womb, we carry Jesus too. Paul asked the Corinthians, “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you” (2 Corinthians 13:5). And just as the baby Jesus grew within her womb, he can grow within us too. However, in order for him to do that, we need to decrease and let him increase, Just like John the Baptist said (see John 3:30). 

As Christ grows in us, we will be led to people and places just as Mary was led, but we need to go with haste. When the Spirit prompts, as he surely prompted Mary, we need to move! Ambrose of Milan said, “The grace of the Holy Spirit does not know delayed efforts.” This does not mean we always act impulsively, but when we feel the Spirit propelling us towards something, then we need to do it quickly. This is what the apostles did. The Holy Spirit often stopped them from doing things, but when he told them to move, they moved rapidly. And, consequently, the faith spread like wildfire.

God is lighting a new fire today, and he needs people to carry his light to all corners of the globe. These reflections are now being translated in over 21 languages, reaching out to thousands of people around the world, many of whom don’t speak English. But there are still millions of people who don’t know Christ. How will Jesus reach them? Through you! If you speak a language that we’re not translating, volunteer to do it. If you don’t, then at least please share these reflections with others. Even one life saved makes the effort worth it.  

Please don’t delay. It’s time for rapid action!

Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here: #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/RkWAsRvmrpg


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