Daily Reflection – May 31, 2017
Wednesday 31 May 2017
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18A
Responsorial Psalm:
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6
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:
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:47)
Today imagine you are Mary, taking the long journey to visit Elizabeth’s home. You are filled with wonder and joy as you walk along, thinking of all that God has done for you:
“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior! To be blessed with a child is truly wondrous. But that I would become the mother of the Messiah is an honor beyond reckoning. As you allowed your servant Hannah to conceive the prophet Samuel even though she was barren, you have promised the same to me (1 Samuel 1, 2). But I have conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. I cannot understand how this is so, but still I delight in doing your will, O Lord!
“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior! I praise you, Lord, that through me you will lift up all the lowly of the world—not only those without bread, but those without hope, without peace, and without love. I praise you that generations to come will look to me as the most blessed of all women, someone who will point the way to their Redeemer. Thank you for allowing me to become the ark of the new covenant, a covenant that will last forever.
“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior! As you used Jael and Judith to defeat Israel’s enemies, you will use me to defeat our greatest enemy—sin (Judges 5:24; Judith 16:6). Through my son, you will bring freedom to countless souls who have been held captive by Satan’s lies. I am amazed that a child of my own womb is destined to bring healing to the sick and justice to the oppressed!”
How will you rejoice in God your Savior today? Like Mary, you can say, “The Almighty has done great things for me” (Luke 1:49). He has given you the riches of his grace and eternal life in his Son. So fill your heart and mind with these truths, and then let new words of blessing flow from you to your heavenly Father.
“Thank you, Father, for rescuing me from sin and death. May I never fail to praise you for your salvation!”
