Friday, May 31, 2024

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)

The term “visitation” gives this gospel episode its due dignity.  Mary’s going to see Elizabeth is not a cordial meeting of two women sharing the experience of pregnancy.  Nor is it, at least in the first instance, a demonstration of Mary’s desire to assist her aged relative in her first and inherently delicate pregnancy.  No, Mary’s journey to the hill country brings the king within her to a significant part of his kingdom. 

Jesus comes to the environs of John, his harbinger.  John duly recognizes Jesus’ kingship by leaping in Elizabeth’s womb.  His action is much like an army at a distant outpost snapping to attention when the president makes a formal visit.  Elizabeth acknowledges Jesus as her Lord.  Mary also proclaims Jesus’ kingly stature when she speaks of God doing something great for her.

We too are given reason to rejoice today.  Our Savior is making himself known in the world.  He will establish for us and for others the way to true and lasting peace.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

 Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 (Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)

 Visits usually are said to be visitations when they are pre-planned and follow a prescribed form.  A bishop makes visitations to parishes to check financial and sacramental records.  Families have visitation rights to see their loved ones in prison.  Today the Church celebrates the most famous visitation of all: Mary going to the home of her kinswoman Elizabeth.  Neither planned nor formal, her visit qualifies as a visitation because of the dignity of the one whom she carries in her womb.

Mary bears the Messiah, the anointed king of Israel.  She takes him to meet one who will become a leading prophet of the country with whom he is to collaborate.  Most people, of course, do not realize what is happening.  But the child-prophet within Elizabeth’s womb has no trouble recognizing his lord.  He leaps for joy in his presence.  Mary and Jesus will not stay very long, but the two –Jesus and John – will meet again.

The same Jesus makes more than a visitation to us.  With the Father and the Holy Spirit he takes up residence in our souls.  That truth should make us joyful like John.  We should also turn to him in every need.  Whether to resist temptation or to find work, he is there to help us.  

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

 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.

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.” 

Friday, May 31, 2019

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)

Visits usually are said to be visitations when they are pre-planned and follow a prescribed form.  A bishop makes visitations to parishes to check financial and sacramental records.  Families have visitation rights to see their loved ones in prison.  Today the Church celebrates the most famous visitation of all: Mary going to the home of her kinswoman Elizabeth.  Neither planned nor formal, her visit qualifies as a visitation because of the dignity of the one whom she carries in her womb.

Mary bears the Messiah, the anointed king of Israel.  She takes him to meet the prophet of the country with whom he is to collaborate.  Most people, of course, do not realize what is happening.  But the child-prophet within Elizabeth’s womb has no trouble making recognizing his lord.  He leaps for joy in his presence.  Mary and Jesus will not stay very long, but the two –Jesus and John – will meet again.

The same Jesus makes more than a visitation to us.  With the Father and the Holy Spirit he makes our souls a place of residence.  That truth should make us joyful like John.  We should also turn to him in every need.  Whether to resist temptation or to find work, he is there to help us.  

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)

Some parents say that they do not wish to baptize their children because Baptism would prejudice the way their children look at the world.  Echoing the thought, young people claim to suspend their belief so that they might experience the world in new ways.  The serious believer, however, knows that these stratagems actually put one at a definite disadvantage, like not getting eyeglasses when one is noticeably near-sighted.  The gospel portrays Mary as eminently believing and therefore able to foresee the blessings that God will accomplish in Jesus.

Mary visits Elizabeth not to test what the angel told her but because she believes that it is true.  Elizabeth herself recognizes this faith when she exclaims to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed what was spoken to you by the Lord…”  Then Mary voices her famous song praising God for what will be accomplished in Jesus – remembering His promise of mercy and filling the hungry with good things.

Dazzled by the products of science and technology, some see faith as increasingly heavier baggage.  They want it all – the surety of faith and the autonomy of not committing themselves to any worldview.  Some even try to rationalize the question positing that they do not have the gift of faith.  But they likely do have faith.  God has offered it to most of us if not through our parents then through blessed companions all the way.  Rather than putting it on hold, we should allow it, as Mary does in the gospel, to bring us unmerited rewards.