Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-56

 

During those days 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 upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We hear in today’s Gospel reading the joyful story of the Mary’s visit to see Elizabeth. Both Mary and Elizabeth, through the miracles of God in Heaven, are with child. Elizabeth was thought to be barren and unable to have children, yet God filled her womb with life.  Mary’s womb was also filled with life, but a life that was so great that it contained what the universe could not.  Mary is the person who prepared God’s dwelling place on earth.  She was pregnant with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; God incarnate. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and the fully human God of Heaven and Earth. She became the window through which God became incarnate to man. An expecting mother is normally glowing with the elation that she has new life within her womb.  She beams with the joy knowing that she will bring a new person into this world.  Mary must have been exponentially more joyful knowing that she had the Christ child within her womb.  Can you even begin to image the joy and happiness that radiated from Mary in her state of supreme motherhood? We are told that when Mary entered Elizabeth’s house, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb (John the Baptist) leapt with joy as he too was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, radiating from Mary, embraced both Elizabeth and her unborn child allowing them to realize the significance of the child within Mary’s womb.  The Lord Jesus Christ had entered all three lives. Mary proclaimed, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”  She is the window through the light of world shines forever.

 

Because of her dedication and her most perfect response to our Father in Heaven, she became the vessel through which God enters this world.  She becomes the living Ark of the Covenant.  She must completely accept and commit herself completely to God before God can enter her womb.  She becomes the most perfect model for us.  It is through our yes, that God will enter our souls.  It is by the example of Mary that we know that God can enter into our lives.  We too are filled with this same Holy Spirit through our baptism. The big question, “Is it obvious that you have the Holy Spirit within you?” Can your fellow brothers and sisters identify you as carrying Christ within your heart and soul? To have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is one of the greatest graces God bestows upon us. We should be excited and sing out that we have God present within our souls. It is our job, through our actions, our words and thoughts to radiate outward the Holy Spirit to all we meet. We are commanded to share the gifts which God has bestowed upon us.  The greatest of these gifts is the Gift of the Holy Spirit.  We must not only take in the Holy Spirit, we must also reflect and radiate the Holy Spirit to others.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, Thank you for filling my heart with the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for allowing me to be a vessel of your love and joy.

Give me the strength to share this love and joy with others so that they too may know you as I know you.

 

Yours in Christ
Michael Marcon