Zephaniah 3:14- 18a, or Rom 12:9-16
Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
Luke 1:39-46 Full Readings
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin MaryBringing Christ to Others
Today, we celebrate the feast of the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary to his cousin Elizabeth. Luke tells us that Mary went in a haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps, she went to rejoice with Elizabeth and to assist her in her pregnancy. This showed the love that Mary had for her cousin the joy she had for her because of her pregnancy in the old age. However, there was something more that Elizabeth and her family benefited from Mary's visit. In Mary, God visited the household of Zechariah and brought them so much joy that even a child in the womb felt it. We too can be agents of divine visitation to others, bringing them joy, love and peace.
When Elizabeth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promise to give a Savior. What a marvelous wonder for God to fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child in her womb as well. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leaped for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. Do we also leap for Joy when Jesus comes to us daily in his word, Eucharist and in his sacraments?
Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD) comments on John's movements in the womb. "Not yet born, already John prophesies and, while still in the enclosure of his mother's womb, confesses the coming of Christ with movements of joy - since he could not do so with his voice. As Elizabeth says to holy Mary, 'As soon as you greeted me, the child in my womb exulted for joy.' John exults, then, before he is born. Before his eyes can see what the world looks like, he can recognize the Lord of the world with his spirit. In this regard, I think that the prophetic phrase is appropriate: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came forth from the womb I sanctified you' (Jeremiah 1:5). Thus we ought not to marvel that after Herod put him in prison, he continued to announce Christ to his disciples from his confinement, when even confined in the womb he preached the same Lord by his movements." (excerpt from SERMON 5.4). We too the Lords wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we can can out our mission well and boldly.
As Mary visited Elizabeth, she too still visits us in our daily life. Throughout history she has visited and appeared to different people and also to all of us she visits us in a more closer, deeper and more profound way than that of Elizabeth with regard to her account of visitation, that is, she visits us spiritually, while communicating divine graces, divine mercies and the will of God. When we pray the rosary, ask our prayers through her, and when we seek for her intercession, Mary always comes to us and to our aid as a loving mother with a tender and compassionate heart. Though Mary can always come to us, let us always ask her to come and visit as she visited her cousin Elizabeth.
This Gospel story and the feast of today should teaches us much about what is most important in life. Yes, it’s important to reach out in love to others. It’s important to care for our relatives and friends when they need us the most. It’s important to be sacrificial with our time and energies for the good of others, because through these acts of humble service, we certainly share the love of God. But most importantly, we must bring Christ Jesus Himself to others. Elizabeth was not filled with joy first and foremost because Mary was there to help her in her pregnancy. Rather, she was overjoyed primarily because Mary brought her Jesus, her Lord, living within her womb.
Though we do not bring Christ in the same way as our Blessed Mother did, we nonetheless must make this our central mission in life. First, we must foster a love and devotion to our Lord so deep that He truly dwells within us. Then, we must bring Him who dwells within us to others. This is unquestionably the greatest act of charity we will ever be able to offer to another.
Reflect, today, not only upon your mission to invite your Lord to dwell within you as our Blessed Mother did, but also upon your Christian duty to then bring Him who dwells within you to others. Do others encounter Christ living within you with joy? Do they sense His presence in your life and respond with gratitude? Regardless of their response, commit yourself to this holy calling of bringing Christ to others as an act of the deepest love.
Let us Pray
Hail Mary, full of Grace, you are blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Help me, dear Mother, to be open to all that you desire to bring to me from your Son, Jesus. I am honored and humbled that you would care for me and desire to bring to me the mercy of the Heart of your Son Jesus. May I inspired by your example always bring Christ to others. Amen
Be blessed and don't forget to pray novena to the Holy Spirit
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