Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 31, 2025 - May 31 - Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
[Zeph 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16 and Luke 1:39-56]When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." [Luke]
The poignance and cheer of the occasion, recorded only in the Gospel According to Luke, of the visit of May to her cousin, Elizabeth, to share the news of their mutual pregnancies can sometimes prevent us from seeing some of the other aspects. Yes, there is joy to be shared, and childbirth was, and still is, best left to women to help with labor and delivery! It would have been a normal response on Mary's part to visit Elizabeth to help in Elizabeth's last trimester.
Two other "aspects" I'd like to call attention to are first, that Luke has intentionally included this episode to present Mary as the ideal disciple, one who "believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." This is a prominent "theme" in the "infancy narrative" of this gospel.
Secondly, we may not realize it, but everytime we pray the "Hail Mary," we repeat Elizabeth's words of greeting and rejoice that she has come to see us! That is a joyful and serious thing to do. Popular sports culture has unfortunately misplaced the words, "Hail Mary," to mean a last ditch effort to score. (But, who knows? Maybe some non-Catholic will get curious about it and learn something about Catholic tradition. One can only hope!)
In short, the commemoration of this event is not simply an historical incident, but a present reality. Mary has come to be with us to help. How shall we greet her? We don't have to look far for an answer! Ask Elizabeth! AMEN
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