Friday, May 31, 2002
Feast of the Visitation
1st Reading: Rom 12:9-16
Gospel: Lk 1:39-56
Mary set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!" And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in
God my savior!
He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will
call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name!
From age to age his mercy extends to those who live in his presence.
He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with
their plans.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those who
are downtrodden.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy,
even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever."
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.
Commentary
Two pregnant women meet to greet each other: Mary visits Elizabeth to
see the sign given by the angel and Elizabeth greets the mother of the
one whose Son will be proclaimed by hers. The latter bears both the end
of the Old and the beginning of the New while the former bears the fullness
of both the Old and the New Covenants. In accepting to be mothers, they
too accepted to bear the hope for all humankind, for in the birth of a
new baby, humankind continues in its journey.
What a tremendous sign we have in our expectant mothers! A proclamation
of hope for forty weeks; nine months of bearing witness to the enduring
care of God for humanity. There is hope, there is a future as the new
creature is born.