RBWords

     The feast of the Visitation recalls an account in the Gospel of Luke of great charm and power.  "Visitation" takes on many layers of meaning. Mary goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.   Both women find themselves unexpectedly pregnant through divine intervention announced by an angelic "visitor!"  Both women had to deal with difficult challenges in regard to their pregnancy.  Mary was not quite married to Joseph.  Elizabeth was beyond ordinary child-bearing age.  They would have a lot to talk about!  On this level, I think it would be a better idea for a Mom to preach on this occasion!  

     As with all the rest of his "infancy narrative," Luke packs a lot of theology into this event, especially in Mary's "song" which is traditionally called "The Magnificat!"  It is basically a summary of God's plan of salvation using themes from the Old Testament!  The culmination of this plan is reflected in the reaction of the child in Elizabeth's womb to the one in Mary's womb!  This "framework" gives a larger context to the powerful human encounter of the two women.

     Those two levels alone could occupy our thoughts for a long time.  I want to add a third possibility as well - the power of visitation!  The word, "visit," can take on all kinds of meaning both positive and negative.  In all cases, it means an encounter of some kind.  Social "visiting" is an important part of human community!  (The increasing individualism of our American society has eroded considerably  this form of visitation.)  On a more personal level, I take great joy in the opportunities given to me by my itinerant preaching ministry to "visit" dear friends around the country. This has the effect of encouraging and strengthening my own ministry through friendship.   Pastoral visitation is another important form, in which care for a neighbor is manifested in a context of faith.  (The Legion of Mary was founded in large part for this kind of ministry.)  Those who belong to religious orders may use the word "visitation" to mean the official regular "visit" of a higher superior to hold a community accountable for the way in which it is living out the charism of the particular order of men or women.  

     A simple loving encounter between two pregnant women unleashes a powerful opportunity for reflection.  In a sense, this is a "visitation" to all of us.  I hope the welcome will be a warm one!   AMEN