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Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Readings of the Day 
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Mary had just arrived and greeted her cousin Elizabeth. Scripture
says, "(T)he babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Spirit." Elizabeth then blesses Mary and affirms
Mary's faith and her witness to it. 

Mary's response to Elizabeth and to her Lord are words so
familiar to us and yet words that might offer us pause today to
consider them anew. This Magnificat, prayed as part of Evening Prayer,
perhaps just rolls off the tongue with not much "heart
sense." 

Mary was a poor teenager, betrothed and pregnant, and yet she had the
courage to proclaim her savior and praise the Lord!  Her
relationship with God is so evident as she reminds us of who God has
been and is.  I suspect that most of us don't spend our
days pondering these words as we interact with clients and answer
phones and move things and do paperwork.  I wonder, though: Are
they "in us" such that our actions and motivations mirror
Mary's words?

This is our call in Catholic Charities and in service and parish
ministry! 

As these we make our way through these final days before Christmas,
may we recognize God at work -in and through us- blessing our
neighbors, encouraging our clients, and celebrating our coworkers.

Sr. Betsy Van Deusen is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Carondelet who
serves as the Director of Community Partnerships for Catholic
Charities of the Diocese of Albany.  She also serves on the
Catholic Charities USA Parish Social Ministry Leadership Team. 




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