HOMILY FOR THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY YEAR C (2)

HOMILY FOR THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY YEAR C

THEME: THE VISITATION

BY: Fr. Jude Chijioke

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY MAY 31 2022

Readings: Zeph. 3:14-18a; Lk 1: 39-56

“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?” (Lk 1).

Immediately after the Annunciation, Mary sets out towards the hill countryside in a haste. The very first missionary journey of the child Jesus through his mother, which anticipates the evangelizing action of the Christian community. Here comes the great going which fills the whole Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the apostles. The Word of God moves gradually from heaven to earth, from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to Judea and to the ends of the earth; this movement is without hesitation, always in a haste.
In Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth and John meet the Savior. The arrival of Mary in Elizabeth’s home becomes a cause for great rejoicing. Elizabeth expresses her astonishment with the very words spoken by David at the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant: “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9). In the house of Zechariah is realized that which in the future will happen in Jerusalem after the resurrection of the Lord. “In the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out my Spirit on everyone; your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2,17-21). Elizabeth, “full of the Holy Spirit” (v. 41), now understands the eternal plan of God in Mary, and proclaims it: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (v. 42). God blessed Mary with the fullness of all blessings that are in Christ (cf. Eph 1: 3).
Mary is now considered as the New Ark of the Covenant: in her womb she carries the incarnate word, the holy one, the revelation of God, the source of all blessings, the primary cause of the joy of salvation, the center of the new cult. This can only be possible through God’s grace, and by obedience, humility, and faith of Mary. In this feast we celebrate the triumph of that servant who hears and faithfully keeps the word of the master (cf. Lk 11: 27-28). With an act of faith Israel’s history of salvation begins; Abraham leaves for an unknown country with his barren wife, alone, because God calls him and promises him a numerous and blessed offspring (Gen 12). With an act of faith, the history of salvation of the world begins; Mary believes in the word of the Lord: she, a virgin, becomes the mother of God. The first beatitude of the Gospel of Luke is the exaltation of Mary’s faith. That virtue that accompanied Mary on her journey and deeply rooted her in God’s plan of salvation.
God made man is completely present in Mary. In her the promises of God are fulfilled. We are descendants of Abraham through faith in Christ (Lk 3, 8). The fulfillment of the promise made by God to Abraham is now definitive: “In you will all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:3).

Fr. Jude Chijioke