SEASON OF ANNOUNCEMENT - Sunday Dec. 3, 2006 -The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

The third Sunday of the Season of Announcement commemorates another important event in the unfolding of the promises of God. Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.

After receiving such tremendous good news, Mary could have secluded herself in a life of prayer and contemplation. However, after the angel of the Lord had communicated the news of Elizabeth’s conception to her, Mary perceived it as the Lord’s will that she go to be with Elizabeth, and thus chose to share the divine life within her with another. Mary shared Jesus with others even before his birth. The fundamental task of an apostle is to share Jesus with others, and so, Mary is called the “Queen of the Apostles.”

Impelled by the Spirit of God, Mary left on a journey that required four days of difficult travel, especially for a poor girl such as herself. Yet, as the Mother of God and our Mother, she was already concerned for the welfare of others.

When Mary encountered Elizabeth, the unborn infant in her womb leapt for joy, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Spirit and sang of the blessedness of Mary.

Mary is blessed, not simply because she was to be the Mother of God but also because of her own personal faith. She heard the words of the angel and accepted everything that was to happen with humility. For this reason, she is blessed throughout the ages.

The hymn of Mary differs from that of Zechariah. Zechariah’s hymn is communal: he is proclaiming gratitude to God on behalf of all the people of Israel. On the other hand, Mary’s hymn is personal, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” She is humbly proclaiming the great things that God has done for her. In humility, the Virgin of Nazareth proclaims how great the Lord has made her by choosing her as the Mother of his Son.

The hymn of Mary announces a revolution which God will bring about through his Son. This revolution has a variety of aspects: it is moral (“He has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.”); social (“He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places.”); and economic (“The hungry he has given every good thing, while the rich he has sent empty away”).

To be called by God for any task, brings with it a crown of sorrow and a crown of joy. God chooses us not for our own glorification, but in order to use us to bring about his kingdom. Like Mary, all of us should respond with humility and be grateful to God for choosing us as his instruments.

Glory to you, eternal Child begotten of the Father before all ages.
In the fulness of time you took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
You are the King of kings who crowns princes and saves his people.
You raised our human nature to the throne of your glory when you descended from that throne,
took the condition of a slave and truly became man.
Our Spirit is not able to comprehend this humility
and our tongue is unable to describe it.
When you placed yourself within the womb of the Virgin,
she went to the hills of Judea where she met John,
still in the womb of Elizabeth.
She delighted in him with the gift of the Holy Spirit
and filled the mountain with joy.

And now, with angels and all your people, we proclaim:
“Praise the Lord our God, praise him forever.”
We entreat you with your Forerunner:
pour your mercy upon us and assist us with your strength;
enlighten us with your teaching and guide us.
Then shall we go forth to meet you and be seated at your table,
dressed in our wedding garments.

QOLO - (Amplification of the Litany)
Bearing the One who bears the world, the Virgin goes to the mountains of Judea as it was written.
She greets Elizabeth, who says: “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Blessed is the One who chose you, raised you above all other women, and filled you with grace and holiness.

ETRO (‘Perfume of incense’ - final petition)
Lord,
you are the peace who is placed between the heights and the depths.
In your goodness you went to the mountains of Judea to visit John your Forerunner.
With this incense (our prayer) which we present to you,
we ask you to make peace reign among nations and the children of your Church.
Extend your merciful right hand over us and our dead,
and we shall glorify you, your Father, and Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.

MAZMOORO (Psalm of praise before the readings)
On this day, the Virgin Mary greets Elizabeth and says to her:
“The one you carry in your womb will announce the kingdom of God.”

Rejoice on this day, O mountain of Zion, and quake with joy,
hills of Judea, because the one Elizabeth carries will
announce the kingdom of God.

The one who was barren says to the Mother of our Lord: “Draw
near because you carry the One who is the Creator and
Savior of the world.”

Ramsho - Evening Prayer
A Reading from the First Book of Samuel (1 Samuel 2: 1-10)
A Reading from the Second Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 6:9-12)

Safro - Morning Prayer
A Reading from the Book of Wisdom (Wisdom 7:5-14)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 26: 1-18)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. Praise be to God always!

During those days 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."

One need not be Maronite Catholic to appreciate these beautiful prayers, readings and reflections. We are in the beautiful Season of Announcements. Two weeks ago, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the "holy of holies" to announce that God had heard his prayer for a son. When Zechariah expressed doubt, he was struck dumb until the boy child would be born. He was to name the child, John.

Last Sunday, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she had been chosen to be the Mother of God. Mary's acceptance brought Salvation to mankind.

This Sunday, we journey with Mary up into the hills of Judea, to visit Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the birth of John, the Forerunner of our Lord.

May these prayers enlighten you and open your mind and heart in preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child.

Last Sunday, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she had been chosen to be the Mother of God. Mary's acceptance brought Salvation to mankind.

This Sunday, we journey with Mary up into the hills of Judea, to visit Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the birth of John, the Forerunner of our Lord.

May these prayers enlighten you and open your mind and heart in preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.