Daily Retreat 05/31/06

2006 May 31 Wed: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary F

Zep 3: 14-18a or Rom 12: 9-16/ Is 12: 2-3. 4bcd. 5-6/ Lk 1: 39-56

From today’s readings: "Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.... God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid.... Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth...."

Visits with God

Our Christian faith is meant to make a profound difference in our daily lives, and Mary’s visit with Elizabeth is one of the most inspirational (though often overlooked!) gospel demonstrations of this insight.

At first glance, the Visitation seems almost mundane - two women get together and share news and experiences of their pregnancies. Now it’s true that both women experienced the miraculous intervention of God: Elizabeth had grown old and sterile (Luke 1:7,24) and even more wondrously, Mary "did not know man" (Luke 1:34), and so, each only conceived through the power of God. And yet, while not mitigating those miraculous interventions of God, it’s important to affirm the "Power of the Most High" is at work in the conception of every child !

Note too the refrain of joy ringing in the words of both of these women - they shared with each other the joy of the presence of God in their lives, and they rejoiced in further confirming the presence of God in each other’s lives. This in itself is profound enough for us to dedicate ourselves this day to doing just that: sharing with loved ones, neighbors and strangers the joy of the presence of God in our daily lives, and rejoicing in the confirmation of God’s presence in each other’s lives!

P.S. Twelve years ago, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, Mother Teresa also offered a profound insight about the Visitation - read her courageous words here: http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/mtspeech.html