WE DON’T VISIT OURSELVES.
Zephaniah 3:14–18; Psalm, Is. 12, Luke 1:39–56
We are brothers and sisters, yet we don’t visit ourselves; even to call is a problem. We are in the same church, yet we only visit when there is bad news of death. Some don’t even visit, even when one is sick or bereaved. Let us learn from Mary.
Visitations in the scriptures brought good news. Look at the visit of Angel Gabriel to Mary; “she was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Angel Gabriel visited Zechariah and said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.” When he visited Jesus at his trial, he strengthened him.
The Church celebrates the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. We have so much to learn from this visit. First of all, we must learn to visit our loved ones. We must learn to visit those in need—the sick, the elderly, and the lonely.
Again, at that visit, Elizabeth was filled with joy. Beloved, pleasantries bring so much joy. The first reading calls us to rejoice, for the Lord has visited us. Let us extend this joy to those around us as Jesus visits us daily in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
When God is in the midst of people, He saves (Zephaniah 3:17). God visited Abraham and turned him into a trans-generational blessing (Genesis 12:1–3). God visited Isaac (Genesis 26:1–14), and he became the admiration of the civilized world.
God desired to be with us, and so he came into our world in his incarnation. The Bible calls him Emmanuel, God with us. Even after his departure, he visited us again in the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In every visit, he left us with joy, healing, restoration, and salvation (Luke 1:68). PS. 65:9 says, “You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; you greatly enrich it.” Visitation brings about overflow.
Let us learn to visit ourselves and learn to strengthen a brother, whether sick or healthy. Lastly, let us learn to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. If you want God to visit you, visit him in the Blessed Sacrament.
Let us pray
Father, by reason of your visit, you changed our world. Visit us again today and renew our hearts. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
