Wednesday May 31, 2023

Luke 1:39-56

Today we celebrate the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary. It is one of the joyful mysteries of the Rosary that Mary set out, by herself to go to the house of Elizabeth and she stayed with her. From this visitation we get the Magnificat. You know that beautiful song very well sung by her and Elizabeth… My soul is filled with joy as I sing to God my Savior. Incidentally the song is very similar or really is also sung by Miriam the sister of Moses after they cross the Red Sea. But The Blessed Mary made it her own. Do you have a favorite hymn/song that lifts you up when you are in the unknowns?

Let’s talk visitation, at least in the Zambian context. How many Zambians from my generation have had a sister or cousin disappear to the village only to show up months later with a child she went to get from the village? In a deeply Catholic Community it was scandalous to have a child outside of marriage. So many scared girls were sent off. Sent off at a time when they needed their mothers into a village with strange smells. Was it safe in the days of Mary for her to be traveling alone, a teenager traveling alone. Obviously I am bringing the all too familiar Zambian experience to this story.

What I love about the Blessed Mother is that she figured it out, she found someone who could listen and she dealt with her questions. May you figure it out. You maybe dealing with old age, alone, scared. FIND JOY in the midst of your pilgrimage.