Reflection

31 May is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Visitation recalls Mary’s visit to her ageing cousin Elizabeth. Both had recently and unexpectedly been told that they would bear children who were central to God’s plans for Israel. Mary took the demanding journey to the hill country of Judaea to share the good news with her cousin. It was always going to be a joyful meeting, one marked by the kindness of both women.

Kindness is the perfect word to describe Luke’s account of the Visitation. It is kindness for a young woman in her own pregnancy to think of her older relative, and to take the trouble to make a hard journey into the hill country to visit her. It was also kind of her to recognise Elizabeth’s pregnancy as a gift to be celebrated and not merely as a passing event in her human life. She saw Elizabeth’s pregnancy as part of God’s plan for Israel and the world in which her son would have a significant part. The visit itself flowed into her deep gratitude to God for her own gift and into the mutual gratitude for sharing in one another’s gifts – another mark of kindness.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth concludes with a song of thanksgiving for the privilege that God had given her in asking her to be the mother of Jesus. It also expressed a passionate hope for the world beyond her own. This hope, which reaches far beyond her own future and stretches to the transformed world in which the poor would be justly treated and God would rule, is also an expression of kindness. Kindness broadens and deepens our attention to the people and world around us.

May we, like Mary, be faithful to the promptings of the Spirit. Like Mary, may we be open and present to the needs of others and show kindness. Like Mary, may we help celebrate the joyful times and be there for others in the difficult times as well. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, be our inspiration and our guide.

Jesus of Nazareth, help us to grow in Faith, Wisdom and Knowledge.

Based on a reflection by Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ who writes for Jesuit Communications and Jesuit Social Services.

https://catholicoutlook.org/a-reflection-for-the-feast-of-the-visitation-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/