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(Mi.5:1-4a;\xa0\xa0 Ps.80:2-4,15-16,18-19;\xa0\xa0 Heb.10:5-10;\xa0\xa0 Lk.1:39-45)\xa0 \u201cBlessed is the fruit of your womb.\u201d\xa0 From the womb of Bethlehem-Ephrathah, from the womb of Judah, has come forth \u201cone who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.\u201d\xa0 Now \u201cshe who is to give birth has borne\u201d; now has our Savior come.\xa0 Though He has existed from time\u2019s beginning, it is now He is made flesh in the womb of this simple virgin. \u201cWhen Christ came into the world, He said; \u2018Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.\u2019\u201d\xa0 And so God comes in His own flesh to take away our sins.\xa0 Prepared in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin, in this bright cave He is knit with sinews as we\u2026 and who could proclaim loudly enough the majesty of this humble event; who could declare in fullness the blessing of this Mother and Child?\xa0 And their union is one which will save our race, as shown already in the Baptist\u2019s leap for joy in his own mother\u2019s womb.\xa0 The Holy Spirit is working fully in the wombs of these mothers and in their children\u2019s flesh and blood. And so the psalmist finds answer for his prayer to God: \u201cRouse your power, and come to save us.\u201d\xa0 For here comes \u201cHe [who] shall stand firm and shepherd His flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, His God\u201d; here is the One whose \u201cgreatness shall reach to the ends of the earth.\u201d\xa0 And so shall all who trust in Him be saved. In body He comes like a Rock upon whom our feet stand firm.\xa0 In the Spirit has He been formed in His Mother\u2019s womb.\xa0 And, yes, blessed is she \u201cwho believed that what was spoken to [her] by the Lord would be fulfilled\u201d; and blessed are all those who have faith in the Son she bears.\xa0 For all time meets in this moment; all prophecy speaks with one voice of the birth of this Holy One.\xa0 And so, let us pray to God the Father: \u201cProtect what\xa0your right hand has planted, the Son of Man whom you yourself made strong,\u201d that we might praise forever the glory of your presence, in the salvation you have made known.\xa0 May the peace He is be with us always. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Baby Inside" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let the Mother of our Lord come to us, too, that new life may stir in us as well. YHWH, blessed is the womb of Bethlehem, of Israel, of Mary the Mother of your Son.\xa0 For in her you have prepared a body, the body of Jesus, the Word made flesh, that shall be as offering for our sins.\xa0 In Him we are saved, for in Him your majesty reigns, and so your glory is now in our midst. O let us leap like John the Baptist at the approach of your Son and His Mother!\xa0 Bring to life what has remained dormant for such a long time.\xa0 Arouse within us the joy of new life that we might be stirred to proclaim your glory.\xa0 He has come who shall shepherd us, LORD; let us be filled with the Holy Spirit. The sacrifices of old now pass away as all prophecy is fulfilled in the flesh of your only Son.\xa0 And so we pray, let your will be done.\xa0 Let your greatness reach to the ends of the earth and your peace reign in every heart by the power upon Jesus the Christ.\xa0 O LORD, let us be consecrated to you in His holy offering.