VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
31st May 2023 (Wednesday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. 18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R/. Great in your midst is the Holy One of Isreal
Gospel : Luke 1:39-56
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: God visits and intervenes!
Indicative: Mary mediates, intercedes and recommends before God on our behalf. That shows her deepest concern. Certainly, God heeds her mediation. Joy will be the ultimate effect{alertSuccess}
1. Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth is not merely a historical, courtesy or even a charitable visit. It is symbolic, highly spiritual and missionary. It symbolizes God’s own intervention. Whenever there is a need, God visits those in need and fulfils their need.
2. In the episode of the visitation, we see a concrete occasion of God’s mighty intervention through Mary’s noble mediation. Already there is a spiritual inundation of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s presence fills and ignites Elizabeth with the Spirit. She explodes into spiritual excitement and acclamation.
3. In one breath, Elizabeth acknowledges God as her Lord and Saviour. She also acknowledges and acclaims Mary as the Mother of the Saviour, the most Blessed of all women by her faith. Mary’s blessedness is confirmed by the effusion of the Spirit and joy.
4. Spirit and joy are the most authentic signs and effects of God’s presence. Where God is present, there is the Holy Spirit and joy. Mary was already bearing Jesus and so she could transmit Spirit and joy.
5. This would fill and move Elizabeth and her babe in the womb. The same Spirit and joy would reverberate in the entire being of Mary. That is why she would burst into one of the greatest hymns of Spirit and joy, namely the Magnificat.
Imperative: Person and community are two separate and exclusive entities. The Visitation of Mary is not just a journey of Mary. It reminds us about God’s own constant visitation to human lives through Mary’s mediation and the carrying out of our mission{alertSuccess}