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Monday, May 31, 2004

Meditation
Luke 1:39-56

The Visitation of Mary

Don’t you find it remarkable that God chose to bring about his work of redemption through two human babies and their mothers? Jesus was still in Mary’s womb, yet in his presence Elizabeth and her own unborn son, John, were filled with the Holy Spirit. This short but powerful scene gives us a glimpse of the forceful love of God, who simply can’t wait to pour out his life.

What a foreshadowing this is of the glory of the risen Christ, who wants to pour out his Spirit on all people! Elizabeth’s pure and humble response to the work of God in their lives must have brought great comfort to Mary. In Elizabeth she finally found someone with whom she could share her joy and awe at what was happening in her. Who else at this time could understand the song welling up within Mary’s heart (Luke 1:46-56)? Rather than being jealous of her younger relative’s exalted position, Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary and embraced her own supportive role. For her part, Mary did not wait for Elizabeth to come to her, but hastened to her side.

While this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is unique, there is something here that we can all experience. As baptized believers, each of us is capable of bearing Christ to others. If our eyes were opened to the glory of this truth, we too would rejoice and be humbled in the presence of so holy a vessel as a sister or brother in Christ. Even nonbelievers would move us to great reverence because they too are created in God’s image and have just as much potential of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If God has so highly honored human beings this way, how could we fail to show them equal honor?

God used Jesus, even when he was just a fetus in the womb, to pour out divine life. Everyone, no matter how young or old, no matter how strong or weak, has been created as a dwelling place for God. So how can we long for God’s presence and yet disregard him in the people all around us?

“Lord Jesus, as you opened Elizabeth’s eyes in the presence of Mary, so open our eyes to those who also bear Christ. Help us to honor the potential of each person to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 3

<< Monday, May 31, 2004 >>

Visitation of Mary

Zephaniah 3:14-18 or
Romans 12:9-16

Isaiah 12:2-6

Luke 1:39-56

View Readings

THE BIG SERVE

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice.” —Luke 1:41-42

Mary, having conceived Jesus and become the mother of God (see Lk 1:43), was led by the Holy Spirit to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. Mary came to serve Elizabeth in the last three months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (see Lk 1:56). Mary prophesied that this visit and service would be part of a great work of God leading to a spiritual revolution where rulers would be dethroned and the lowly would be lifted up (Lk 1:52).

We too visit and serve people. Most people spend much of their lives serving their children, who hopefully will serve them in their old age. Nevertheless, we often do not see our visits and service leading to a spiritual revolution. We need to be like Mary. We must visit and serve while being very conscious of the presence of God within us and being led in submission to the Holy Spirit. When our visits, service, and lives are Marian, they will be part of the great spiritual revolution of the Holy Spirit.

On this last day of May, the month of Mary, the Holy Spirit is calling us to be Marian, so that “the Mighty One” will do “great things” for and through us (see Lk 1:49).

Prayer: Father, charge my little actions with power because of my relationship with You.

Promise: “Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord.” —Rm 12:11

Praise: Mary’s kindness toward her elderly relative helped release the power of the Holy Spirit into the world.