Friends,
today’s Gospel tells of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. I’ve always been
fascinated by Mary’s "haste" in this story of the Visitation. Upon
hearing the message of Gabriel concerning her own pregnancy and that of
her cousin, Mary "proceeded in haste into the hill country of Judah" to
see Elizabeth.
Why
did she go with such speed and purpose? Because she had found her
mission, her role in
the theo-drama. We are dominated today by the ego-drama in all of its
ramifications and implications. The ego-drama is the play that I’m
writing, I’m producing, I’m directing, and I’m starring in. We see this
absolutely everywhere in our culture. Freedom of choice reigns supreme: I
become the person that I choose to be.
The
theo-drama is the great story being told by God, the great play being
directed by God. What makes life thrilling is to discover your role in
it. This is precisely what has happened to Mary. She has found her
role—indeed a climactic role—in the theo-drama, and she wants
to conspire with Elizabeth, who has also discovered her role in the same
drama. Like Mary, we have to find our place in God’s story.
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 572
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength 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,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
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