THE VISITATION
MICAH 5.2-5/PSALM 80/HEB 10:5-10/LK. 1:39-45
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
In the Gospel reading, Mary travels to the hill country of Judah to visit her cousin Elizabeth. This visit brought joy to the home of Elizabeth. We too can be agents of divine visitation to others, bringing them joy, love, and peace. The season of Christmas is a period of visitation; try to visit your relatives and friends, share with them, and make them happy. Find time to visit the sick or those in prison. Be an agent of God’s love. Visitation is vivifying; isolation stultifies and destroys.
During this season, while you make out a schedule to visit people, try and visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He is the reason for the season. To visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is like being under the sun; you do nothing to the sun, but the sun does something to you. Visit and be blessed. More so, before you set out for a visit, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you; Mary was first overshadowed by the Holy Spirit before going to visit Elizabeth. She is our model and teacher. This Christmas, visit someone!
Today’s gospel also captures the culture of greeting and its far-reaching effects. Mary greeted Elizabeth, and the Bible says, “As soon as your greetings entered my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” Greeting is a good thing. The Church recognizes the importance of greetings, and so at the beginning of the Mass, the presiding priest greets in the following words: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Again, the Church also invites us to greet each other with a sign of peace (waving or a simple bow). Beloved, we need to revive the culture of greeting in the society, especially among our children. Mary, the Mother of our Lord, greeted Elizabeth; swallow your pride and greet somebody cheerfully today.
Those who are humble are ready instruments in the hands of God. The first reading tells us how God favoured the humbled. The birth of Christ took place in Bethlehem—the insignificant village now the birthplace of the Lord’s restoration. The power of God manifests itself through weakness. God does not reject the lonely and the poor. Just as he remembered Elizabeth, he never forgets the poor and weak. Precisely because of this, the second reading calls us to be ready and obedient as Jesus, so that God can manifest his love through our weakness.
Again, after Mary’s greetings, Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Pazhayampallil tells us that Mary is blessed; she is blessed because the fruit of her womb is blessed. Every mother on earth is blessed, because the fruit of the womb is a blessing. All of us are blessed, Eph. 1:3-4. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places… and he chose us in Christ to be blameless.” Each time we say the “Hail Mary,” we reaffirm this blessing and participate in it. Beloved in Christ, count your blessings, not your problems.
In addition, the Angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with od.” In these last days of the year, with so many anxieties and fears, the angel says to us, “Do not be afraid.” Like Mary, we must put aside any fear in order to take Christ to the world, whether as students, teachers, or parents. Mary brought Christ to Elizabeth in her heart and in her womb. Let us bring Christ to everyone we meet. Do not be afraid to speak the truth. Many of us have actually found favour with God, but we are yet to respond to that grace. We live in fear with our gifts; fear is a serious attack against faith. Let us have faith and defeat our fears.
LET US PRAY
O God, who through the child-bearing of the holy Virgin graciously revealed the radiance of your glory to the world, grant, we pray, that we may venerate with integrity of faith the mystery of so wondrous an Incarnation and always celebrate it with due reverence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen
Summary
Mary’s Visitation: A Call to Love and Humility
- Introduction: The Significance of Visitation
– Mary’s visit to Elizabeth brings joy and love
– We are called to be agents of divine visitation
- The Importance of Visitation During Christmas
– Visitation is a key aspect of the Christmas season
– Visit relatives, friends, the sick, and those in prison
– Visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
III. The Power of Greetings
– Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth has far-reaching effects
– The Church recognizes the importance of greetings
– Revive the culture of greeting in society
- Humility and Obedience
– God favors the humble
– The birth of Christ in Bethlehem shows God’s power in weakness
– Be ready and obedient like Jesus
- The Blessings of God
– Mary is blessed because of the fruit of her womb
– Every mother is blessed because of their child
– We are all blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ
- Conclusion: Do Not Be Afraid
– The Angel Gabriel’s words to Mary: “Do not be afraid”
– Put aside fear and take Christ to the world
– Have faith and defeat fears
Prayer
