Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Among you is the great and Holy One…the feast of the Visitation gives us a unique opportunity to ponder the Holy One being among us. How privileged we are to see Mary and Elizabeth embracing each other and the Divine presence in their midst. Elizabeth’s child leaping for joy in her womb confirms her understanding of this presence and affirms what the angel had told Mary. We see two women celebrating what God was doing in their lives—two women filled with the joy of God.
Overwhelmed by the Divine presence, Mary’s heart prays: my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. Mary sees beyond the seeming contradictions. Elizabeth is pregnant beyond the usual age, and Mary is a virgin carrying divinity. For Mary, these are not contradictions but opportunities for God to act in our lives.
Her prayer recounts how God turns our lives upside down so that we may recognize him and his love for us. The hungry are fed, the rich are sent empty away, the mighty are cast down, and the poor are lifted up. The proud are scattered, and his mercy is remembered. Her faith in God’s promises is unshakeable and enables her to magnify the Lord with her life.
Is our faith in God’s promises unshakeable? Do we magnify the Lord with our lives? When we come together for the Eucharist, we are the hungry who are fed, we are the poor being lifted up by the Lord and one another, and we are the ones who are challenged to have our lives turned upside down by God’s love. Do we realize that the Almighty has done great things for us and sent us forth to do great things for others?
Who will I visit today to share the joy of God’s love?
Let us pray:
Blessed are you, Mary exalted Daughter of Sion! You are highly favored and full of grace, for the Spirit of God descended upon you. We magnify the Lord and rejoice with you for the gift of the World made flesh, bread of life, and cup of joy. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, our model of prayer in the Cenacle, pray for us that we may become what we receive, the body of Christ your son. Amen.
