Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Zephaniah
3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)
In the
Letter of James, the author admonishes his readers to be doers, not just
hearers, of God’s word. He could have
used Mary as an example. Today’s gospel
relates how she set out in haste with the angel’s report of Elizabeth’s
pregnancy. Also, Mary had told the angel
that she would receive the Son of God as his words proposed.
Mary is not
the only one in the reading to defer to God’s word. As she enters Elizabeth’s presence, the child
within Elizabeth salutes the child within Mary.
Elizabeth’s child, John, recognizes that Jesus is God’s word made flesh and
leaps for joy.
God’s word comes to us as well. We hear it, among other places, at mass and in our consciences. It comes as much to help us as to inform us. We should leap for joy too. It brings us the hope good news of salvation.
