taken 2005 by sji

 

Dec 21, 2005

Lk 1:39-45 Mary set out in those days 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.”

The time of the celebration of the birth of Jesus is drawing near. The joy of the unborn children of the the related mothers is clear. John leapt with joy in the womb of Elizabeth when he heard the voice of Mary. Elizabeth was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and pronounced to Mary that the Lord's word will be fulfilled in Mary who is blessed. Mary has believed what God told her.

The Visitation is a scene of anticipation and a special joy of women who are close to each other and to God. About five years ago, I was working in the Paterson Diocese as a volunteer with Sister Mary Willifer in Casa Maria, a house for homeless women with HIV/AIDs. For Christmas for Sister, I drew a line drawing of Elizabeth and Mary in a doorway and illuminated in calligraphy below the Scripture, "Ave Maria, gratia plena..." When Sister opened the gift she was very touched, because I had not been told by anyone, but the Visitation was the date that she made her vows.

God has a way of speaking to me and directing me sometimes when I am not sure how or when or where or why. I love the gift of the fellowship of those who believe in Christ. I am at a loss this morning for a specific meditation or prayer to bring from the lectio on this Scripture, I think that throughout the day I will reflect simply on the image of Mary and Elizabeth embracing/greeting each other. To me a great part of the Visitation is joy for each other in the love of Christ.