Reading: Zeph.3:14-18; Ps. Is. 12:2-6; Luke 1:39-56
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
THE
SACRIFICE AND JOY OF VISITATION
Every
last day of May, we celebrate the Feast of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. A great Marian feast on which we conclude our May devotion in a grand
style in procession, with hymns and candlelight, singing along with our Mother
Mary in thanksgiving to God for the good work of our salvation.
So,
today’s feast as we have it in our Gospel passage, reminds us of the moment
when Mary, after the event of Annunciation, having received the message from
Angel Gabriel, came to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is now pregnant with a
child. For at that time, Mary was just having the Child Jesus in her not long
after he was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, while
Elizabeth, who had become pregnant earlier, was having John the Baptist in her
womb, even in her old age.
Here,
Mary sang the Magnificat in honour to God for the great thing he has done not
just for her, but for all humanity. For having heard that her cousin Elizabeth,
who at that time had been long barren had now conceived a child, came and found
out that what the Lord had revealed to her through the Angel Gabriel was indeed
true, that her cousin Elizabeth had miraculously conceived in her old age. And
herself, about to have a Child without any human relations but by the power of
the Holy Spirit. These made Mary rejoice greatly, for it was truly a great and
joyful moment which God had shown to all his people.
Hence,
this grace-filled event reveals the special role that Mary played in God’s plan
for human salvation. So, as she brings the Word of life dwelling in her womb to
Elizabeth, Mary becomes the image of the Church’s missionary activity for she
is filled with the spirit ready to visit and bring Christ to all humanity.
This
also presents to us the joyful moment when Mary bearing the Word Made Flesh
visited barren and lonely humanity well represented by the person of Elizabeth.
Thus, in this act of kindness, we recall the faith and the wonderful commitment
shown by Mary, as an example and inspiration to all of us. For she totally
obeyed the Lord and entrusted herself completely to the divine will of God.
Dear
friends, visitation is part and parcel of our mission, just that we are so busy
with everything except the very essence of our mission, which is, the salvation
of our souls. The fact remains that, there is joy and power in visiting one
another just like Mary. There is grace and a sense of belonging in visiting one
another.
Do you
know that some visitations bring healing, restoration and joy? Do you wish to
have or give such kind of visitation? For there is inner healing and
restoration when we visit each other. So today, who do you wish to visit or who
will you like to visit you today? How will you feel if any of your loved ones
should pay you a surprise visit today? How will you feel if your presence
brings joy and happiness to someone today?
Why
not try to visit someone today? Why not try to visit your friends, colleagues,
classmates, workers, family members and neighbours whom you have abandoned for
a long time? Why not try to learn from Mary, for in her we have found a great
role model? So, by following her example we also embark on our journey of
faith, learning from her obedience and dedication to the mission that has been
entrusted to her throughout her life, just as we are entrusted with the task of
spreading the Gospel passage to all humanity.
LET US
PRAY: Lord God, only the soul for whom you have done great things can truly
proclaim with fitting praise the joy of your presence. As we embrace your words
today through the visitation of our Mother Mary, we joyfully surrender unto
you, our whole life, our senses, our barrenness and loneliness, for our spirit
rejoices at the coming of Christ Jesus our Saviour, and may this joy always
remain in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.
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