We can find many images of God in the Bible that surprise us. The Song of Songs is an allegorical love song or poem that illustrates the love between God and Israel. Later on, Christians saw the Church and even the individual soul as the beloved. The ancients were not afraid to relate to God in very tender and loving ways. The God of the philosophers and scholars can seem very cold and distant at times. Loving the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, on the other hand, can give our prayer new life. All we need to do is to open our hearts and allow ourselves to feel God's presence. Let us show this tender and compassionate God in our word and speech.

The mere closeness of the Saviour in Mary's womb gives life to Elizabeth's baby - John the Baptist. Mary is honoured for her crucial role in God's plan of salvation. But at the heart of Mary's greatness was her belief in the promises of God - and it was an absolute belief. She trusted that God was faithful, just, and loving. Do we trust God fully and believe in His promises? We probably say 'Yes, but....' It is the 'but' that weakens our faith and makes it more difficult for God to use us as His instrument. Let us pray for Mary's unwavering trust and faith in the compassionate mercy of God. We too can do great things for God.