Luke 1:44
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
When I get home from work, my wife and kids are there (sometimes) to greet me. There's not a lot of excitement, except for the dog. My dog Jackson still barks for a few seconds to let everyone know I'm home and to show his excitement that the master of the house has arrived. It's a good feeling to be appreciated and welcomed, even by the dog!
It's not often in our lives that we have an announcement that brings us so much joy and love that our heart jumps or skips a beat. Maybe a wedding proposal, the announcement of a child, and even a new job can be thrilling. Sometimes in church we can experience the same thing (although unfortunately it is rare). It might happen at your baptism or confirmation, at the Easter Vigil, or a Christmas hymn that stirs the soul. The Holy Spirit is speaking to us at that very moment and stirs us to emotion. This is what happened with Elizabeth, Mary and John the Baptist. Upon hearing Mary's voice, John leaped inside the womb of Elizabeth. He knew, through some kind of celestial, holy power, that the voice he heard was his confirmation of the beginning of the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation for the world!!!!! That same Spirit is alive with us today if we welcome it. Christ is with us when we give our whole heart to our spouse when exchanging vows. He is there at the birth of your child, and at the passing of a loved one. Jesus himself is with us at every Eucharistic celebration. This weekend when you go to church, take some quiet time to earnestly reflect on the great mystery of the Eucharistic feast and the fact that Jesus is present—body, blood, soul and divinity—with you right there! That profound realization should make your heart leap for joy!
