Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | USCCB
Today we celebrate
the beautiful story of Mary’s visitation to her elderly cousin, Elizabeth. We
see in today’s gospel how God is working through both Mary and Elizabeth, and
the two unborn cousins, Jesus and John.
The first words
that Elizabeth says when Mary approaches is, “Most blessed are you among woman,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Words that we are most familiar with
when praying the Hail Mary. Elizabeth recognized that Mary was open to God’s Will
and was carrying the Savior in her womb. Further, John, in Elizabeth’s womb
leaped for joy at the approach of Jesus and Mary. Both Elizabeth and John
recognized the presence of holiness in the form of Mary, the mother of the
Lord, and of Jesus, true God and true man, in her womb.
Mary would go on to
pray the beautiful canticle known as the Magnificat, where she proclaims, “My
soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my
savior.” These beautiful words, prayed daily during Evening Prayer, showed how
God was always the center of who Mary was. She was always open in doing the
Will of God, no matter how difficult it may seem. As a result, she became the
mother of the Savior. And as a result of Mary’s yes to God’s will, salvation
came into the world.
One name for Mary
is Theotokos, which is Greak for God-bearer. We, as followers of Christ, are called to
imitate Mary in bringing Christ into the world. Mary bore Jesus in her womb and
brought him physically into the world. We are called to bring Christ into the
world spiritually. With each Holy Communion we receive we become
“Christ-bearers”. Let us remember that as we leave church following Holy
Communion, we are, like Mary, bringing Jesus to all we meet. Let us be true
examples of what it means to be Christian to all we meet in our families and
those we meet daily.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteI love the Feast of the Visitation & the Gospel accounts of both the Annunciation & the Visitation.
I especially love the concluding paragraph of this blog post. For many years of my service (42 years & counting) as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion) I have brought Holy Communion to homebound parishioners--the most recent of whom was my Mom until shortly before she died. Several years ago I realized the connection between Our Lady's role in bringing Our LORD hidden in her womb to Elizabeth in her confinement during her pregnancy with St. John the Baptist & my bringing Our LORD hidden in the Eucharist to homebound parishioners in their confinement at home & to my Mom, both when she was confined at home & when she was confined for rehabilitation at Dry Harbor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for almost a year after she broke her ankle & had surgery on her ankle.
Thank you for the reminder that not only EMs who have a special ministry of carrying the Eucharist in our pyxes & bringing Our Eucharistic LORD to people confined to home, hospital, nursing/rehabilitation facility or prison bring CHRIST to others, but when we receive Our LORD in Holy Communion we also bear CHRIST & become bearers of CHRIST for everyone we encounter. May the LORD help us to remember this & reflect this in our encounters everyone we meet.