Mary Visits Elizabeth

Today's Reflections

                               

Mary Visits Elizabeth 

 http://graceandspace.org

Lk 1:39-56

³⁹During those days Mary 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.”

⁴⁶Mary 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 infant leaped in her womb. Mary brings so much joy both to Elizabeth and to the child in her womb. When Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the infant leaps in her womb, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth cries out in joy, blessing Mary, “the mother of my Lord,” and the Child in Mary’s womb. Mary’s coming is an event of grace, a moment of joy. Why is this so? Mary does not come alone. She comes with Jesus who is already living in her womb.

Let us pray that our meetings with other people will also bring grace and joy. This will happen if, like Mary, we do not come alone but bring Jesus with us who dwells in our hearts through faith (cf Eph 3:17).

Today visit someone who needs to experience

the grace and joy of Jesus.