31 May, 2023 | Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Gospel Lk 1:39-56



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.

Reflections

Today the church celebrates the feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother to cousin Elizabeth. The Gospel tells us that Mary went with haste after hearing that her elderly cousin is in her sixth month of pregnancy. Mary left behind her own preoccupation just to be with her as soon as possible.   Her whole attention was her cousin -- the other was more important irrespective of what she was going through herself. She recognized the working of God in her own life and the life of others. Her total trust in God’s word made possible the salvation history that changes the course of human existence. God come to intervene so that humanity finds its way back to him. In the song of the Magnificat, Mary spelled out the action that God made with humanity in this salvation history. For her everything is a gift therefore her soul magnifies the Lord.

Activity

Take some time and  reflect on how often you go out of your way to help those who need you. 

We take this opportunity to thank Sr Scandya Sanglyne FSP for her meaningful and thought-provoking Gospel reflections for the month of May 2023.
May the Lord continue to bless you dear Sr Scandya, and we look forward to your reflections in the coming year 2024.

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