First Reading

Book of Revelation
Chapter 11, Verse 19a; Chapter 12, Verses 1-6a, 10ab

1. One of the images in this reading is the Ark of the Covenant. Compare Mary with this image.

2. Does Christ reside in you and your neighbor? Might you be an ark of the covenant, so to speak? If you keep in mind that God is present in the people you meet, how might this change the manner in which you greet/treat them?


Second Reading

First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 20-27

1. The reading says that Christ will bring those who belong to him to life. What does “belong” mean? The thesaurus gives us these synonyms: connected to, be part of, feel comfortable with, be attached to, have a place, be one of the family. Which meaning would you choose?

2. Imagine you are a Christian in Paul’s time and you are hearing about the resurrection of the dead for the first time. Would this idea move you to any changes in your life?


Gospel

According to Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 39-56

1. What in Elizabeth’s life helped her understand what had happened to Mary? How is the babe leaping in her womb like a “leap for all humankind”?

2. Discuss this idea of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Mary is not the tender, dreamy person you see in paintings. She speaks out in revolutionary tones of God “scattering the proud, sending the rich away empty, casting the mighty from their thrones and showing strength in his arm.” Along with the women prophets of the Old Testament, she tells of the power of God and the smallness of humankind.