The Word: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" (cf. Luke 1:39-56)
Mystery of the day: Sorrowful
Celebration of the day: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This feast is celebrated between the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and the birth of the Baptist, in conformity with the gospel accounts. The Visitation is the encounter between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Mary's "Magnificat" is another testimony of her humility and greatness before God. Her readiness to serve is a good lesson on fraternal charity.
Table of the Word: I R.: Romans 12:9-16
Resp. Psalm: Psalm (cf. Isaiah 12)
Verse before the Gospel: Luke 1:45
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
Inspiration:
Today we joyfully celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the Mother of the Word incarnate and our Mother. The history of man's reconciliation, redemption and salvation would not have been complete without special mention to this great woman of faith; whose hymn of praise "magnificat" expressed in concrete terms her humility, docility and readiness to accept the will of God for the redemption of human race.
In commemoration of this kind gesture, that we will reflect this morning on the theme: "Blessed are you..." keeping in mind the spiritual imports of the visit of our Lady to Elizabeth in our lives.
In the course of the visit, Evangelist Luke in today's gospel gave account of this great visit where "Son-God" met with His "Would-be-precursor" - John the Baptist. It was indeed the meeting of Divine designates.
As Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (see Luke 1:39-56) This acclamation prompted by Holy Spirit expressed precisely the maternal function of our Mother Mary as the harbinger of the goodnews who happened to be the "New Ark of Covenant." Her readiness to assist Elizabeth further invited us to a life of fraternal charity in our various Christian communities.
Beloved in Christ, as we celebrate this solemn feast let us in one accord embrace a life of docility to God's will, expression of fraternal charity to one another in word and action so as to be true witnesses of the Gospel.
Finally, as our Mother Mary was in haste to pay this awesome visit to Elizabeth let us make effort in reaching out to one another in love. Peace be with you!
Let us pray
Almighty ever-living God, who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb, inspired her to visit Elizabeth, grant us, we pray, that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit, we may magnify your greatness with the Virgin Mary at all times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
© The ARCHIVE 31052024
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