by Ms. Portia Sylvia D. Awayan, RSW – Redemptorist Lay Missionary
There are two significant moments happening in this reading. The first is Mary’s generous visitation to her cousin Elizabeth, in which feast we celebrate today, and the second is Mary’s bursting into song of praise, which we commonly call “the Magnificat.”
The theme of the Visitation centers on Mary setting out to a mission of charity, while the Magnificat is inspiring us to live a life full of gratitude, generosity, compassion, and hope. The feast of the Visitation reminds us to be charitable to our neighbors.
As Christians, Mary is our model of charity work. Travelling a long distance, Mary set aside her own needs and immediately left on a challenging journey to care for her older cousin, Elizabeth, who was dealing with an unexpected pregnancy of her own. Mary exemplified the selfless love of a charity worker.
When was the last time that we walked the extra miles just to reach out to a person in need? Was there a time that we risked our lives in order to rescue an abused woman or a child? Can we recall setting aside our own needs just to care for someone who was more in dire need? How many of us have sacrificed much of our time, our money, our job, our love-life, and even our families in order to be true to the Christian values that we profess?
Today, Mary’s visitation reminds us to honor the countless Christians who have given away their comforts in order to offer the best service to unfortunate people who are victims of man-made and natural tragedies. We remember that as Christians, ours is a highly upright calling, and that we are dedicated and committed to serve others despite all odds.
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was a life-giving visit. She was literally carrying a message of joy and hope and, in doing so, stirred up life within Elizabeth, who was no doubt deeply concerned about her own condition and circumstances. Our visits to our neighbors can be life-giving, too. We just do not know how much we are appreciated when we integrate with them, chat and eat with them, listening to their stories and struggles in life. The image of Mary and Elizabeth, embracing with such warmth, love, and joy, is how we should interact with one another.
In receiving our neighbors, we are receiving Christ himself. As Christians, let us strive to mirror Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship with the people in our lives, especially the most abandoned and less fortunate. Let us embrace each other with joy-filled hearts, humble ourselves so we can see Christ in each other, and allow Christ’s perfect love to radiate through our interactions with people.
In the Magnificat, or Mary’s song of praise, she focuses on God’s great works, especially His tendency to turn everything upside down. The Lord “scattered the proud and haughty ones,” rather than honoring them. “He has brought down princes from their thrones, and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands”. God’s kingdom inverts human structures and values, as is seen so clearly in Mary’s own experience. So, we continue to hope and work for change in social structures that favor oppression and corruption. How many Christians suffer in silence due to an unjust system in the workplace, perpetuated by the powerful and the elite?
We should never underestimate God’s tremendous power and love for us. Our God is a God of surprises. He is all powerful and merciful. Like Mary, we believe that we will be blessed by God and by the people we serve, from “generation to generation.” Sometimes, when we least expect it, God touches us with a miracle and our life is changed forever, just like what He did to Mary and Elizabeth. So, keep on trusting God … Amen.
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 