FRIDAY MAY 31, 2024
FRIDAY OF THE EIGHT WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Romans 12:9-16
Luke 1:39-56
BRINGING CHRIST TO OTHERS
The main task of every Christian is to be bearers of Christ and to bring Christ and the Spirit of Christ to all we come across in life. This was the task that our Lady, Mary, did when she visited Elizabeth. Mary brought the child Jesus into the home of Elizabeth.
And Elizabeth recognizing the presence of Christ in her home exclaimed with joy untold and gave Mary the title of the Mother of my Lord. For indeed the child in her womb leapt for joy in the presence of the Saviour of the world.
The action of Mary visiting Elizabeth to stay with her, to share in her joys of motherhood, to offer help to her in her predicament of being pregnant at an old age speaks more of the compassionate heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary who did not think of herself alone, who was not carried away by her exalted position as the Mother of the Saviour of the world, who also was not counting her comfort or thought of her herself as in the same position of being pregnant and needing care but went out of her ways to offer help, give helping hand and support to an old woman in her pregnancy.
But even with that great intentions, the humility of Elizabeth, the sharpness of her spirit and the joyful spirit of her closeness to God instinctively recognized and esteemed the presence of Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and counted herself lucky and fortunate to be accorded such honour.
Elizabeth teaches us the value and reward of gratefulness, gratitude and appreciation for little things done to us. Elizabeth’s closeness to God and her purity of life made also the Child John the Baptist to leap her womb of which she recognized and spoke about. It is the heart of two spirits filled persons with the children of their womb chosen by God. Imagine the happiness of such encounter, the joy that is experienced and the lasting memory of this scene.
The gospel continues the songs of the magnificent, the songs of praise of Mary, the emptying of her heart in gratitude to God. She gave it back to God and instead of accepting and allowing such honours and adoration appropriated to herself, she emptied her mind in singing and proclaiming the goodness of God not only to her but to the whole of creation, and to man in particular. She looks beyond her exaltation to the exaltation of man.
This is the one song, the magnificant that has become the prototype to give praise to God. And is being sung everyday in the church’s evening prayer. Mary teaches us not just to be caring, and to be compassionate and loving but also to be grateful to God and see beyond the immediate and the personal to the eternal and more importantly to the greater good of all.
And in imitation of Mary in her humility, simplicity, compassionate and loving endeavors we bring Christ to others. We make Christ known and loved. We live in the spirit of Christ, we become bearers and givers of Christ to the world. And the work of evangelization is furthered, enhanced and projected. Our thoughts of offering a helping hand, taking risk of visiting and actual works of sharing our labours, visiting with compassion and love and doing such with devotion and total commitment is our ways of bringing Christ reign into our world.
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to live among us, to take away our problems, to console us and to share his grace among us. Mary followed in same way to share Christ with Elizabeth. May we be enabled to act likewise, by sharing and bringing Christ to others, showing compassion, love and generosity with our lives. Help Lord that we may recognize Christ in others too through Christ our Lord. Amen.
