FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY-Gospel (Lk 1:39-56) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
FIRST READING - 3:14-18a
A reading from the Book of Zephaniah
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 1:39-56
From the Gospel according to Luke
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.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY-Gospel (Lk 1:39-56)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
At the beginning of God's work of creation, Mother Mary was the first woman chosen by God to participate in His plan of salvation. This is a very noble grace. God predestined her to be the Immaculate Conception and the Mother of God. She always lived in close union with the Holy Trinity in God’s work of creation and salvation for humanity. Behind God's divine plan stands Mary. She is the woman who crushed the head of the serpent, as mentioned in the Bible during the creation narrative.
In God's work of creation, to become the first Mother of humanity, she had to endure many difficulties and challenges in life. Then, at the beginning of God's work of salvation, when the Second Person of the Holy Trinity came to earth to become a human being, Mary was filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. In humility, she said "yes" to receive the Son of God into her womb: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” She was appointed to be the Mother of God.
After that, Mary received the news that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age. Obeying God, she went to bring the Lord to visit Elizabeth, and the child in Elizabeth’s womb—Saint John—leaped with joy. Saint John would later prepare the way for the Savior. The image of Mother Mary visiting Elizabeth is also the image of Mary bringing the Lord to humanity. At that moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed: “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth’s declaration affirms that Mary is the Mother of God. She brought God to humanity. She is the mediator between God and humanity.
Those who seek salvation should follow the example of her virtuous life, for she is the Immaculate Conception, perpetual virgin, assumed into Heaven in both body and soul, and the Mother of God. Now, let us all join Mary in praising God through the Magnificat:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
God invites everyone to imitate Mother Mary’s humility and perfect obedience. Though she is the Mother of God, she is not proud. She always feared God and considered herself His lowly servant. She lived only to obey and fulfill God's will. Though she was human, she experienced hardships and challenges in carrying the Son of God into the world. But because she obeyed, she accepted it all with her "yes." She was joyful and happy that God allowed her to cooperate in His work of salvation.
Today, on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God also calls all of us—especially those who are walking in His plan—to:
Follow the example of Mother Mary in her humility and joyful obedience to God, even amid persecution, condemnation, difficulty, and trial. Let us reflect on the moment when Mary gave birth to Jesus: She could not find a suitable place for the Son of God to be born, so He was born in a stable. Is there anyone who endured greater hardship than Mary at that moment? Let us look to her as our model as we continue in God’s plan.
On the journey to the House of God the Father in Heaven, no matter the trials we face, let us thank God like Mother Mary. Let us accept ourselves as His lowly servants and obey Him in all things.
Follow Mary’s example as a joyful missionary, always bringing God to others and sharing the message of salvation with our brothers and sisters.
When we want to ask something of God, let us ask through Mother Mary, for she is the most pleasing intercessor before Him. Let us unite with her, pray to her constantly, so that she may teach us to live in a way that pleases God most, and strengthen us to carry out our God-given mission.
A special truth God wishes to emphasize today is that He has given Mary two unique roles: as our Advocate and as a Marshal leading her children in the battle against Satan. Therefore, in every moment of our lives, let us pray to her:
Please help me to drive away Satan. Help me to resist the temptations, traps, and sins he sets before me.
Please help me to fight against Satan and win souls back for God.
Please help me to imitate your virtues—especially your humility and obedience—so that Satan cannot steal my soul.
Please accompany all of us, that we may not fall into Satan’s snares.
Today, Mother Mary wants to tell her children:
Unite with me through the Rosary. Praying the Rosary is a bridge between you and me, a lifeline that draws you close. When you pray the Rosary, I will always be with you to protect and guide you.
I love all my children deeply and do not want anyone to fall into Satan’s hands. I invite you to run to me, and I will shield you from his power and bring you back to God the Father, who loves you and is waiting for your return.
Thanks be to God and Mother Mary. Amen.
Comments