Readings: Micah 5:2-5; Ps. 80; Heb. 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
SHARING THE JOY OF GOD’S MESSAGE THROUGH VISITATION
As we await the commemoration of the nativity of our Lord Jesus, an event that reminds us and reveals to us the great plan of God towards redeeming humanity. This Sunday we are required to say yes to this plan of God and share the joy of this encounter with people through Visitation. This is evident in our readings today; in our first reading, we heard prophet Micah saying: out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; for the Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
These prophetic words came to fulfilment in the life of Mary as we have it in our Gospel passage today which reminds us of the moment when Mary, after the event of Annunciation, received the message from Angel Gabriel about the plan of God for her and her cousin Elizabeth, she came to visit Elizabeth, for both are now miraculously pregnant with 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 as a barren woman.
At this visitation, 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, she 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 brought the Word of life dwelling in her womb to Elizabeth, Mary became the image of the Church’s missionary activity, for she is filled with the Holy 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 obeyed the plan of the Lord and entrusted herself completely to the divine will of God.
Dear friends, saying yes to God’s plan for us is so important. And I must tell us that God has a special plan for everyone, a unique plan. But sometimes it seems as if God has favoured some persons more than others. Well, in the eyes of men, it seems true, but God has favoured each person in a very unique way only that we sometimes do not understand what God is doing in our lives. Our understanding of favour is quite different from that of God. However, all we need is to say: God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will just as we heard in our second reading today, an affirmation of Mary’s response to God’s plans for her.
So, as Christians, in Mary, we found a great role model for each and every one of us. For, following the example of Mary 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.
But the truth remains that we are so busy with the things of this passing world and have failed to carry out our mission. Today, the streets are full of people struggling and bobbling; the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and chatting, and the Churches are full of people praying, singing and celebrating. We are so busy with everything except the very essence of our mission, which is, the salvation of our souls. Today, we are called to reflect deeply and to dispose ourselves to embrace the Word of God with joy just like Mary and Elizabeth.
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. Wishing you a fruitful Sunday celebration.
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