DAILY- HOMILY

May 31, 2018 - THURSDAY 

VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Feast. White.

Zep 3: 14 - 18a / Lk 1: 39- 56

Originally celebrated on 02 July, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was transferred to 31 May so that it is celebrated between the Annunciation of the Lord on 25 March and the Birth of John the Baptist on 24 June.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Zep 3: 14- 17a

Cry out with joy, 0 daughter of Zion; rejoice, 0 people of Israel! Sing joyfully with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! Yahweh has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away. Yahweh, the King of Israel is with you: do not fear any misfortune.

On that day they will say to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid nor let your hands tremble, for Yahweh your God is within you, Yahweh, saving warrior.. He will jump with joy on seeing you for he has revived his love.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Lk 1: 39- 49

Mary then set out for a town in the hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and, giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

And Mary said, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my Savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is his Name!"

REFLECTION

What would make us "leap for joy"? What would make us truly happy?

In today's readings we read about being joyful and "leaping for joy." In the first reading Israel cries out for joy because "Yahweh has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away. Yahweh, the King of Israel is with you." Yahweh himself "will jump with joy on seeing you for he has revived his love."

At the arrival of Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth "the baby within me [Elizabeth] suddenly leapt for joy": "How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?"

Responding to her joyous welcome, Mary proclaims God's goodness to her: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my Savior!"

A proverb goes, "Joy shared is joy multiplied." Imagine what the world would be like if we shared our joy with others: joy would never run out. What more, if this joy comes from the goodness of God to us? We would, like John in the womb, be leaping for joy at what God does for us! May we always be joyful in the Lord.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

THANKSGIVING 

    Dennis, Wendy, Gabe, Aleks & lñigo

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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