Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18 / Luke 1:39-45
On the 20th July, 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped out from the lunar module.
Just before his foot touch the surface of the moon, he said this:
That's one small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind.
We may have seen that footage before and we know the excitement behind it.
Today's gospel is also filled with excitement, a much greater excitement.
It was just one small leap from a baby in his mother's womb, but it signals the beginning of our leap back to God.
All because Jesus stepped out of heaven to set foot on earth.
Today is another step closer to Christmas.
At Christmas, Jesus will again step in our hearts and make His home in us.
Let us also take a step closer to Him as we hear Him calling out to us in the words from the 1st reading: Come then, my love, my lovely one, come.