She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all
Luke 2:38
“On the 6th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 6 geese a-laying.” What are we going to do with 6 geese laying eggs? And what does that have to do with the days of Christmastide? The familiar cumulative Christmas carol was first published in England in 1780 as a spoken chant. Somewhere in time, a variation changed the gift-giver from “my love” to “my mother.” The “six” is representative of the 6th day of creation. In this Christmas season, the “egg” the geese are a-layin’ clear image of “new life” given to us in the birth of Jesus. His life, his love just keep “a-layin” from one generation to the next. Our response echoes, and re-echoes in the words of the Alleluia verse: “A holy day has dawned upon us. Today a GREAT light has come upon the earth. ALLELUIA!
St. Luke, in the gospel, holds up for our admiration Anna, the prophetess. In the days when most women might have been hesitant to raise praise aloud in public, Anna “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all.” In the first reading, St. John says he is writing to “children and fathers”. What about mothers? Now, we know John loved and honored Jesus’ mother. It was he to whom Jesus entrusted his mother on his dying day. Thanks to the church’s choice of readings, in the witness of Anna, a woman’s voice also is heard on this 6th day of Christmas.
Luke wraps up today’s lesson with a challenge to us. We pray that like “the child” (Jesus) we may we grow and become strong, filled with wisdom; and may the favor of God be upon us. AMEN
Today’s Reflection is by:
Sister Roberta Bailey
Did you know...
Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, is currently the prioress (president) of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in Saint Leo. Sister serves on the diocesan Commission for Religious. She is the former principal of St. Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio, Florida, and Saint John Paul II Catholic School in Lecanto, Florida. Sister Roberta is celebrating her 61st year in religious life.
