Friday, May 31, 2019
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1st Reading: Zep 3:14–18a
(or Rom 12:9–16) Gospel: Lk 1:39–56
Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord’s word would come true!”And Mary said:“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name! His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him. He has shown the might of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things while the rich he has sent empty away.(…)”Mary remained with Elizabeth about three monthsand then returned home.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Although the Feast of Annunciation falls every 25th of March while that of the Visitation on the 31st of May, we don’t think that the same span of more than one month actually lapsed between the visit of Angel Gabriel to Mary and Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Mary went in haste to visit and stay with her cousin Elizabeth after she heard from the Angel that Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy and needed help.
Help delayed is help denied. There are times, though, when help must be held in abeyance to evaluate if the act will not make the recipients dependent. Help must not condemn the needy person into perpetual mendicancy but must empower him to help himself. This notwithstanding, the holding in abeyance should not be unduly stretched. Unnecessary delay turns the whole process into a convenient excuse not to help.
After the Feast of Annunciation, a feast like “Marian Thanksgiving Celebration” is in order, for indeed so great was the gift Mary received through the Annunciation that she deserved to throw a thanksgiving party. But we celebrate none of that sort, and rightly so, for Mary subordinated her right to celebrate the favor she received to her duty to help a person in immediate need. Let us prioritize the needs of others. Such will already serve as an act of thanksgiving so pleasing to the Lord. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.