FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who believed
that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. LK 1:45

ZEPHANIAH 3:14-18 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Mary said yes and because she did the heavens and the earth exult. She said yes and the Son of God became incarnate of her as the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her. The triune God caused her to be born without the stain of original sin by the merits of the Son she would conceive, The Trinity marked her with a spiritual beauty that was far above that of the angels and certainly over all the saints. 

The exultant shouts of joy that erupted in the heavens at Mary's fiat and caused the heavens to shake have not ceased for she is truly the cause of our joy both in heaven and on earth. By her yes the gates of heaven would finally be opened by her firstborn and the eternally begotten firstborn of the Father. Because Mary said yes, the death sentence that was passed on the world would be lifted and humankind would live.  The head of the Enemy would be crushed under her heel and the power of death would be destroyed.

Mary's yes has caused the world to have hope once more. We can now approach the very gates of heaven and behold our God face to face. You took flesh in her womb and we eat this flesh and receive Your life that will well up to eternal life for all who believe. 

Because of Mary's yes God walked in our midst. As God who became Man You gave Yourself up to us and we crucified You - in yielding Your life to our death You have ensured that we who believe will never taste death, and we have this assurance as well:

God will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.

ISAIAH 12 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The whole of creation waited with bated breath for Mary's response to God's invitation to cooperate with Him in our salvation. We rejoice as the redeemed people of God only because Mary said yes.

Because Mary said yes, You walked among us as one of us. We are saved because she, in perfect humility, submitted her whole being to the will of God to do with as He willed.

Fear no longs stalks us for we walk by faith. Our hope is renewed and we now sing a glorious song of praise for You have saved us. You have given us access to the Holy Spirit so we can drink deep of the living water that never runs dry for it is replenished each time we approach the Sacraments.

Mother dearest, just as the Church will never cease to be grateful to you for your 'yes' to God so will her songs of praise of you be ceaseless for you, sweet Mother, are deserving of our praise, reverence, and love. Thank you.

LUKE 1:39-56 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Magnificat is the hymn of a soul possessed so wholly by God it is a perfect reflection of Him. After receiving and accepting God's invitation to become the Mother of the Son of God given to her through the Angel Gabriel, she went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth having been told that she too had conceived a child in her old age by the power of God.

Every little detail mentioned about Mary in God's Word, though sparse, has revealed to the Church meditating on every word she spoke and all her actions for over 2000 years, is that Mary, the New Eve, the Ark of the New Covenant, the Seat of Wisdom, is the Mother of the Son of God. There is no praise, no honor, no reverence, no amount of love that we show her can rival or outweigh the love, reverence, and honor that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, together with all the angels and saints shower on her. 

She carried the Son of God in her womb for nine months. No human creature was as closely united with God as she was - in fact, God received strength and sustenance from her body. Her blood gave Him life - He was truly flesh of her flesh. He could become the Son of Man and accomplish the salvation of the world and redeem it from the powers of hell and Satan only because Mary said yes. No wonder hell is powerless against her. 

The more we contemplate the Song of Mary in the Magnificat, as the Church has done for 2000 years and will continue to do until You, her Son, returns, the more we will discover fresh insights into the rarest of rare Jewels that is Mary whom the Church is privileged to call Mama for we are truly her children by adoption just as Jesus is her only begotten Son.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. But Mary, Our Mother, remains by our side always, for we, as the beloved disciple, have taken her home with us.