God’s
temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the
temple.
Revelation 11:19A
His
mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the
lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away
empty. Luke
1:50, 52-53
Piety
“Rather, blessed are those who hear the word
of God and observe it.” Luke 11:28
Study
Spoiler Alert: As we have another solemnity to reflect upon
the life of Mary, our first reading gives us a little morality play between
good and evil. Good wins. Despite the lurking
dragon, “[h]er child was caught up to God and his throne.” In thanksgiving for all she had done, God
prepared a special place for Mary and, in the fullness of time, assumed her
into heaven.
But why?
Because Mary let God into her life. She heard the word of God spoken by an
angel. She observed it. Literally, she let God in by physically having
the mortal body of Christ grow inside her.
Every time we walk up to the altar to
participate in the Eucharistic feast, we imitate Mary letting God inside. We have to open our mouth to take the body of
Christ. Yet, for God to grow inside us, we also have to open our heart to live
the body of Christ. Just as “heaven was opened” for God to come to earth, we
must be open for God to come to us.
Without Mary, resurrection would not be
possible. Without Mary, there would be
no Jesus, no first fruits. “Christ has been raised from the dead, the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-21)
We must be open to encounter the Lord of the
Bible in life today just as Elizabeth was amazed in joy at her encounter with
Mary.
Coincidentally, today’s reading from the Rule
of St. Benedict corresponds directly with the Visitation. As Elizabeth received Mary, we must receive
the visitor.
Chapter 61: How
Pilgrim Monks Are To Be Received
If a pilgrim
monastic coming from a distant region wants to live as a guest of the
monastery, let her be received for as long a time as she desires, provided
she is content with the customs of the place as she finds them and
does not disturb the monastery by superfluous demands, but is simply content
with what she finds. If, however, she censures or points out anything
reasonably and with the humility of charity, let the Abbess consider
prudently whether perhaps it was for that very purpose that the Lord
sent her.
Action
And
how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
The themes in Mary’s life continue to play
out today. Listen to any homily by Pope
Francis. Read any encyclical. Visit any poor neighborhood or barrio. The lowly are singled out for God’s favor;
human fortunes are reversed fulfilling the promises of the Hebrew Bible.
How does this happen to me? Perhaps it was
for that very purpose that the Lord sent her.
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