Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Reflection by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
Theme: VISIT US LORD IN OUR PRESENT CHALLENGE
(Luke 1:39–56)
We celebrate the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary today. It is not just Mary’s visit to Elizabeth but God’s visit. Mary carried Jesus to her. She carried hope, joy, peace, love and care.
Elizabeth faced serious challenge of experiencing pregnancy for the first time in old age. Mary went to share in what she was passing through. She went with a whole lot of assistance. She went to serve her. She went to stay. She brought great joy and relief to Elizabeth.
We too look forward for our own visitation. Students in boarding schools look up to see their parents on visiting days. It was a thing of joy to hear your name being announced by the receptionist to go and receive your visitor. It was also a thing of greater joy to be visited when you never expected any visitor. The visit brought a lot of goodies along with it and gave opportunities for interaction.
As we celebrate this feast, we present our need for divine visitation to the Lord. We pray for heavenly intervention and Mary’s intercession. We are helpless in the face of the present insecurity challenges in our country today.
We pray that the end of our May devotion may bring an end to the unrests we are witnessing today.
Mary assisted Elizabeth to midwife the babe in her womb. We need the presence of the Child of Mary to help us bring our noble dreams to realization; Our dreams to live in harmony, fulfilling our roles as children of God and attaining the position God destined for us.
Thus, we employ God to be with us, Mary to visit us and the protection of God to be upon us. Let us be disposed to shelter and welcome what Mary is coming with. May God visit us and restore to us the joy of our salvation.
LET US PRAY
Remember us Oh Mary, in the face of our tears and fears, when the ocean roars. May we not perish. May we not go down. Visit us with your maternal help, take our plights and situations to God in prayers, that at the end we may leap for joy for prayers answered. Bless us Oh Lord as we totally look up to you through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God bless your Monday (Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Virgin Mary)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh