Magis Catholic

The upcoming World Youth Day this July is focused on Mary during the Visitation. Admittedly in the past I have only ever focused on the Annunciation. I glaze over the next mystery, not understanding what it meant. Now when I approach the scene of the Visitation with eyes searching for meaning, I realize why this scene is indeed a mystery of joy.

The story starts with Mary in haste to visit Elizabeth.

After giving a complete Yes (her Fiat) to angel Gabriel, she rushes to see this miracle of God for herself. The angel has given her great news: her cousin Elizabeth, who was called barren, is now pregnant with child.

For nothing will be impossible to God. -Luke 1:37

Age doesn’t matter to God. He is bigger than human limitation. He doesn’t look at us in the critical way that we do with our own faults. He is bigger than human circumstances. His will and His ways prevail.

This part especially hits me hard because I feel as if I am transported to all those times that I have failed to appreciate the goodness and glory of God around me. I think of all those moments of weakness when I feel afraid of what’s coming for me, fearful of the uncertainty of the future, anxious about when the shoe will drop. How forgetful is the human heart! How blind are we to the works of God!

Yet we come back to the proclamation of the angel, nothing is impossible to God. If we can believe this, if we can have faith, God will follow through on His promises in His perfect time. Just like he did with Elizabeth. Just like he did with Mary.

He’s got us in the palm of His hand.

Going back to the scene, we see a happy reunion and a special blessing.

With Mary rushing to her cousin and Elizabeth blessing Mary as the baby St. John The Baptist leapt in her womb, we see a joyous reunion of two pregnant women. Realistically speaking, there is probably a lot of shrieking, hugging, and tears involved. One is younger and the other is wise with years, but the miracle stands. God has lifted up the lowly. Both with child as a result of God’s blessing and despite all odds, they celebrate the favor of God.

This leads us to the truth of the Visitation. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed to Mary in a loud voice:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

– Luke 1:41-45

Mary is blessed because she believed that God will fulfill His word.

She trusted God with her whole being, her whole life, and her whole future. It was a gift of everything. She held nothing back.

This is why she is our model in faith. Mary always does the will of God. Her faith is complete, and her love for Him is perfect. Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord.

The story of the Visitation is a mystery of joy.

With the examples of Mama Mary and St. Elizabeth, we are invited to be attentive and open to the goodness of God. Most of all, we are invited to celebration. Our joy is not just because we get what we pray for, but that we receive the Lord Himself. Our faith is not only based on the fulfillment of a promise, but the faithfulness and generosity of our God.

To end this reflection, I ask for your prayers and I offer mine for you as well.

• That God may grant us the gift of faith that believes in His goodness against all odds.
• That we may be ready to receive the fulfillment of the promises of God.
• That we may be joyful as we wait for His hand, certain that when the time is right, God Himself will make His will come true.