Dec. 21st Advent - Visitation

Today the Gospel shows the marvels that God has done in two unborn children.

When the angel revealed his message to the Virgin Mary, he gave Her a sign to win Her trust. He told Her of her cousin’s new motherhood, who had been old and barren, to show that God is able to do all He wills. Believing the words of the angel, Mary sets out for the hill country hastening with joy.

As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the child leapt in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Notice the choice of words here. Elizabeth was first to hear Mary’s voice, but the unborn John is the first to be aware of grace. She hears with the ears of the body, but he leaps for joy at the meaning of the mystery. She is aware of Mary’s presence, but the unborn John is aware of the Lord’s presence. John, the forerunner is the aware of Jesus, the pledge for our salvation. The women speak of the grace received while the children are active in secret, unfolding the mystery of love with the help of their mothers, who prophesy by the spirit of their sons.

The child leaps in the womb, and his mother, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, but not before her unborn son is filled with the Holy Spirit. Once her son has been filled with the Holy Spirit, he fills his mother with the same spirit.

John leaps for joy, and the spirit of Mary rejoices in Her return. When John leaps for joy, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, but we know that that though Mary’s spirit rejoices, She does not need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. After conceiving John, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, but Mary is already filled with the Holy Spirit before conceiving the Lord.

Let us ponder the marvels God has done in the unborn children ----and through the children ----to their mothers. May every mother’s soul, like that of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s, proclaim the greatness of the Lord. May their spirit rejoice in God in their savior, who has done good things within them, and so value each child as a marvel, which God has done for them and for the world.