Feast Day of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth on May 31
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”—Luke 1:39-49
Sculpture Mary Visit to Elizabeth, Church of the Visitation, Ein Kerem Jerusalem
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth is perhaps our best example of what happens when two people allow the Holy Spirit to intervene in their lives. Elizabeth, late in her third trimester, hears Mary, in her first trimester, greet her. We don’t know what Mary initially says to Elizabeth, but we know it must have been affirming because the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy. Elizabeth is then filled with the Holy Spirit and greets Mary with these words: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." If only we had the courage to say that to each other as we meet. “Blessed are you among women; blessed are you among men.”
Mary then breaks into the song of praise and thanksgiving, known as the Magnificat. "My soul magnifies the Lord,”
“And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant." If only we had the courage to say every morning when we wake up, “My soul magnifies God.”
Visitation, Barbavara Book of Hours, 1440, Walters Art Museum Baltimore
How wonderful it is when we meet our neighbor, if the child, the God, the resurrected Christ within us, could leap for joy to see the God, the Christ within our neighbor. What does this story tell us will happen in our lives and in our neighbor's life when this occurs? We will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and our neighbor will be empowered to live out a song of gratitude and praise.
Some of us are like Mary, beginning to bear children. More of us are like Elizabeth, past childbearing age. Some of us have never borne children, yet the story of these two saints still speaks to each of us. It is the birthing of new life within each of us, enabling us to honor the new life in our neighbor.
This is one of our most descriptive passages about being and having a spiritual friend, a soul mate. As spiritual friends, we are called to see Christ, new life, in each other. Our friend's response may sometimes be as miraculous as the joy of the Magnificat. This story shows us how to see Christ, new life, in our neighbor. It is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Our job is to put ourselves in a position to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit, to see Christ in our neighbor, and then to honor Christ in our neighbor. The promise of this story is that when we reflect Christ, new life, back to our neighbor, she may also see Christ in herself and be enabled to live out the Magnificat.
What does it mean to "sing out the Magnificat”?
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”? The words are clear. It is about living a life of gratitude and being open to God working in our lives, even in our greatest times of stress. Our role model is an unmarried, pregnant young girl, empowered by the love of her older relative, who eloquently expresses her faith in God. Through the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth sees God in her young cousin. When Mary is open to God within herself and can also see and feel God within herself, her response is this great hymn of gratitude and praise. The fruit of the Spirit, which springs forth when we see Christ in each other, is gratitude and praise. This is our sign that we are indeed open to and honoring God in each other.
What a difference we could make in our own lives and in our neighbors’ lives if we each became an Elizabeth to the Marys we visit and live with daily, at home and at work. When we see God, Christ, and new life in our neighbors, the God within us will also "leap for joy" as we meet others on the road to a happy destiny, one step, one person, one greeting at a time!
Joanna Seibert. JoannaSeibert.com