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Gospel: Luke 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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This is the only encounter in the Gospels between two women… and they’re both pregnant.
Strangely, both pregnancies happen under nearly impossible circumstances – Mary, a virgin, and Elizabeth, a barren, elderly woman.
Few, if any, in the outside world would believe what’s happened. But, as we often see in scripture, God works in mysterious ways.
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Perhaps the most pertinent detail to our lives today is the action of Elizabeth.
Despite her frail, old age – and her own pregnancy – she welcomes Mary into her home for the next three months, offering an open ear, a tender heart, and what little resources she has.
That’s no small sacrifice.
But it’s the essence of love – putting the needs of another before our own.
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Today we not only celebrate the Feast of the Visitation; we also celebrate Memorial Day, a holiday that recalls the loving sacrifice others have made on our behalf, much like Elizabeth who sacrificed for Mary.
Traditionally, we honor our American soldiers.
But this year we also remember the bravery shown by our frontline medical workers, sanitation workers, teachers, and all those who’ve put our needs and safety before their own.
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In what ways can we follow their example? How can we embrace a spirit of service?
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As we were reminded by Saint Paul in our first reading, “Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Serve the Lord…and contribute to the needs of others.”
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Image credits: (1) The Seattle Times (2) Society of the Holy Child Jesus (3) BeAnInspirer.com