Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
[Zephaniah 3:14-18A or Romans 12:9-16 and Luke 1:39-56]My sould proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
Although these words are placed by Luke on the lips of Mary, they could easily apply to Elizabeth as well. Her inability to conceive a child was a sorrow to her. The gift of John (the Baptist) certainly brought joy if the account of this scripture is to be believed! We are not told if she survived to suffer the sorrow of seeing her only child executed by Herod, as Mary survived to see Jesus crucified. One of the qualities of a great feast is that it offers many possibilities for reflection, like the feast of the Sacred Heart the day before. With the Visitation, any mom can sympathize with the simple gesture of one pregnant woman going to visit another, especially if the latter is pregnant for the first time relatively late in life. There are anxieties amidst the the joys! Both pregnancies are unexpected and are seen as matters of personal faith but the scene is also used by Luke to communicate the greater gospel story of God coming to save the world. The canticle (Magnificat) is a complete interpretation of salvation history which would be accomplished by the child in Mary's womb. Whether we choose to reflect on the simple human kindness of the visit or the tremendous vision of the future, we are challenged to enter into the gospel and enjoy the Visitation. AMEN