A Gospel Enquiry
Introduction
Pope Francis celebrated Mass on 31 May, 2013 in the chapel in the St Martha guest house where he resides. It was the Feast of the Visitation. His homily focused on the joy that is experienced when we accept Jesus into our lives, just as Mary accepted him into hers … and the joy Elizabeth experienced when Mary greeted her … the joy that leads to praising God.
There are many questions that go unanswered in Luke’s description of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. For instance, who would have given a young woman permission to travel “abroad” only a few months before her wedding? How did she manage to make the journey when it was forbidden for women to travel unattended? How did she manage safe passage through Samaria? Mary would have walked for about three days. Did she carry food with her? Where did she stay at night? And with whom?
But the focus of the story was not meant to be the journey, but on the interaction between the two women and the joy they experienced in the presence of the children they carried in their wombs. God had gifted them with life and had graced them with participation in the divine plan of salvation. In that context, the pursuit of answers to the questions posed above becomes meaningless and a distraction.
The story of the Visitation shows God disrupting the patriarchal worldview. Mary and Elizabeth spend three months together, experiencing what Pope Francis called “that gratuitousness of wasting time praising God.” Jesus and John would have sensed that joy as each grew in his mother’s womb.
And what about us? Surely, there is joy to be graced with when we reflect on the presence of Jesus growing in our own lives. Isn’t this worthy of wasting time praising God?
The Gospel
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
And Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
‘Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
‘He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
‘He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy – according to the promise he made to our ancestors – of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. (Luke 1:39-56)
The Enquiry
See
- What are the elements of this event, recounted by St Luke? Include the two women in the scene and the two yet-to-be-born children they carry in their wombs as elements.
- Why does Mary visit her cousin? And why does she pray what we know as “The Magnificat”? How are the motives related?
- What happens because of this meeting?
Judge
- What do you make of this story? What is your view of what Mary says and does in this story?
- What does this Gospel story teach you about the art of accompaniment as an expression of faith?
- How does this Gospel story help you deepen your relationship with Jesus?
Act
- After reflecting on this Gospel story, what do you want to change in the world?
- What small action can you take that will contribute to bringing about this change?
- Who can you involve in your action and how, when, where and how often will you get them to participate in your action?
Author: Pat Branson
Image Source: Frans Vandewalle (Creator), Basilica di San Francesco, Lower Church, Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337), The Visitation of Mary to Elisabeth, fresco, Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0