Monday, May 31, 2021

 The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Romans 12:9-16; Luke 1:39-56)

Superiors of religious congregations make visitations to the houses of their members.  They check for harmony by interviewing individuals.  And they assure faithfulness to the congregation’s principles by observing daily routine.  Although Mary is hardly mother superior, she does visitate Elizabeth in today’s gospel.  She wants to learn how things fare with her elderly kinswoman pregnant for the first time.. 

Elizabeth certainly greets Mary as her better.  She asks what gives her the honor of having such a distinguished guest.  Rather than act pretentiously, however, Mary recognizes that she has done nothing to deserve her blessing.  Any greatness she possesses is the work of God on her behalf.

It can be said that nothing becomes a person like recognizing the benefits that she has received from others.  In our age of self-promotion, such modesty may seem characteristic of a typical loser.  But this is only because many today take on the pretentions of self-importance.  The first reading points out a more authentic road to happiness.  Like Mary, we should “not be haughty but associate with the lowly.” 

No comments: