Monday 20 December

Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38

Filled with wonder

But do we ever reflect on the awe Mary experienced when she heard Gabriel greet her with the word “Hail”? Hail is better translated “Rejoice” and it wasn’t the customary greeting. Prophets used it to express the welcome the Messiah would receive when he entered the Holy City. In this context the same prophets call Jerusalem the Daughter of Zion. The Church has taken that title and bestowed it on the Blessed Virgin. That too gives us reason to wonder.