What a great Feast- Visitation of Mother Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
Only who has great faith and can count herself Zero could utter these words from the depth of her heart. With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts she has been given. Then she recalls God's universal favors, bestowed unceasingly on the human race.
When someone devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims God's greatness. His observance of God's commands, moreover, shows that he has God's power and greatness always at heart. His spirit rejoices in God his savior and delights in the mere recollection of his creator who gives him hope for eternal salvation.
For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Mary attributes nothing to her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of the one whose essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fills with greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in him. It’s not just uttering some words it is really an outpouring of her hearts. Witnessing God in public.
Zechariah and Our Blessed Lady are both good people, pleasing in God’s sight, and yet how different their response to the Lord’s message brought by the Angel Gabriel!
Our Lady’s question, But how can this come about, since I am a virgin? is one of enquiry. She believes and only seeks understanding. Gabriel’s reply, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow, is enough for her to be able to reply wholeheartedly and unconditionally, Let what you have said be done to me. Zechariah’s reply, on the other hand, lacks faith. How can I be sure of this? He does not really believe, and points out the reasons why: I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years. He wants proof. He lacks faith, at least initially, in the shock of the moment.
In both situations the Angel Gabriel appears without warning. Mary is greatly disturbed and Zechariah is overcome with fear. Gabriel tells both of them, do not be afraid. We too are constantly counseled in the Scriptures and through the teachings of the Church to be not afraid and yet, like Zechariah, we let fear take over. We too want to be sure of things. We want to know what will happen to us, what people think of us, what we should do – and all without the hard work of discernment and trusting faith in the Lord. Fearing ultimate responsibility, we want someone else to blame for the choices we make.
Mary and Zechariah both make their response to the Angel Gabriel’s message. Mary’s response is immediate and positive. Let what you have said be done to me. And her fiat, her response, is quickly translated into action. That was a Reflex action- a quick and spontaneous action. Aware that her cousin Elizabeth has also been greatly honored by God, she goes quickly to visit her, to share the good news – one woman with child to another. When Word of God touched the heart of Mary she started her journey to visit her cousin who is in need. The Word of God will compel your heart to do many charitable works in your life, if you allow the Spirit of God to work in your life.In her joy and wonder, her first thoughts and actions are for another. She who has become the mother of the Son of God knows, with Gabriel, that nothing is impossible to God. Her cousin Elizabeth has also acknowledged the Lord’s gift of the life of her son: the Lord has done this for me. How right, how magnificent, that these two women should come together to share their joy, to support one another and to thank God. And that is today’s Feast.
To understand the whole story we must ask the fundamental questions that have always stirred the human heart: what is it all about? Why am I here? Who am I? What is the real meaning of my life?
The simple answer is that each one of us is a precious child of God, made in his image and likeness. Each of us, like Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah and John the Baptist has been given a specific vocation that only we can fulfill. The first vocation of every human being, however, is to know, love and serve God; to recognize and acknowledge that we are creature and not Creator and we are not the ones who control the world. We exist through no action of our own, but through the action of our parents who in co-operation with God and human nature, conceived us. Thus every moment of our existence happens at the will of God. Thank God with our mother Mary for what we are and for our life.


The Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,my spirit rejoices in God my Saviorfor he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessed:the Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear himin every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israelfor he remembered his promise of mercy,the promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children for ever.