Mary Visits Elizabeth

Today's Reflections

Mary Visits Elizabeth 

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Lk 1:39-56

³⁹Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, ⁴⁰where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, ⁴²cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

⁴⁶And Mary said:/ “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;/ ⁴⁷my spirit rejoices in God my savior./ ⁴⁸For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;/ behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed./ ⁴⁹The Mighty One has done great things for me,/ and holy is his name./ ⁵⁰His mercy is from age to age/ to those who fear him./ ⁵¹He has shown might with his arm,/ dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart./ ⁵²He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones/ but lifted up the lowly./ ⁵³The hungry he has filled with good things;/ the rich he has sent away empty./ ⁵⁴He has helped Israel his servant,/ remembering his mercy,/ ⁵⁵according to his promise to our fathers,/ to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”/ ⁵⁶Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Reflection:
 

The Mighty One has done great things for me. Mary’s song or canticle is known as the Magnificat, from the first word of the verse in Latin that is rendered in English as “magnifies” or “proclaims the greatness.” The song speaks of the faith and hope of Israel and reveals the unfolding of God’s whole plan of salvation. It is a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his saving intervention in history.

The Magnificat also talks about the lowly and the poor who are the recipients of Yahweh’s intervention and salvation. This salvation is realized through Jesus, the suffering servant.

God has done great things for us. We have been forgiven of our sins. We have been accepted and redeemed in spite of our betrayals. And in the end God sent his only Son, Jesus, to save us and to bring us back home to heaven.

Compose your own Magnificat or canticle of thanksgiving.