Daily Reflection – May 31, 2016

Tuesday 31 May 2016

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18 / Romans 12:9-16
Responsorial Psalm:
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel
Isaiah 12:2-6
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-56

Today’s Feast: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel Reading:

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.

Reflection:

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. (Luke 1:45)

To confirm something is to verify it as being true or accurate. It means putting to rest any doubts you may have about a particular matter. Looked at in this way, today’s feast of the Visitation shows three different ways that God confirmed Mary’s calling to her.

First, the Visitation tells us how Mary and Elizabeth – both made pregnant miraculously – offered an emotional confirmation to each other. You can imagine these two woman talking excitedly about all that has happened to them: one who conceived despite of her old age and the other who conceived without human intervention. You can see them sharing their joys, their concerns, and their hopes for their children.

Second, the Visitation describes a physical confirmation, when the baby John leaped in his mother’s womb. Luke called this a leap of joy, indicating that it went far beyond a baby’s normal kicking (Luke 1:44). That leap confirmed for Mary how special her baby was.

Third, the Visitation gave Mary a prophetic confirmation. Elizabeth called Mary “the mother of my Lord,” confirming that Mary’s child was more than just an ordinary baby (Luke 1:43). Luke also tells us that Elizabeth said these words because she was “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41).

Today, Jesus wants to confirm his promises in your heart. He wants to bless you just as he blessed Elizabeth, Mary and John at the Visitation. Perhaps his blessing will spark you to leap toward him in faith. Maybe it will confirm his presence in you. Or maybe it will move you with excitement and a desire to share your blessing with the people around you.

Most of all, Jesus wants to confirm that he is working wonders in you, even if it doesn’t feel like it. He wants to let you know that he is pleased with you, and he is happy to keep working in you, doing whatever it takes to build up your faith.

So relax today, and listen for his voice in your heart. Let him tell you, “Blessed are you who believed!”

“Lord, I ask you to come and visit me. Holy Mary, come and confirm Jesus’ work in my life.”