Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ Thăm Viếng (31/5)Luke 1:39-56,

 Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ Thăm Viếng (31/5) Luke 1:39-56,

Ngày hôm nay chúng ta mừng lễ Đức Mẹ Thăm Viếng bà thánh Esave (Elizabeth), chúng ta vui mừng trong sự hy vọng. Nếu không có niềm hy vọng, chắc chắn chúng ta không thể tìm thấy bất cứ điều gì mà có thể hấp dẫn trên thế giới. Chúng ta cần hy vọng. Chỉ cần nhìn vào thế giới, không phải chỉ ở trong nước ta, mà trong tất cả các nước trên thế giới. Những cửa hàng buôn rộng lớn của hận thù, ích kỷ và hoài nghi đang thúc đẩy và đưa tới những tội ác vô nhân đạo nhất và làm ảnh hướng đến cảm xúc của chúng ta. Sự tàn bạo, những đam mê sắc dục như thú vật được tự do thoả mãn đã phác hoạ một cách sinh động trong các ấn phẩm và phim ảnh hiển thị một thế giới không có hy vọng.

Thế giới mà Đức Mẹ đã được sinh ra chắc chắn là vô vọng hơn, bởi vì Chúa Con Ngôi Hai chưa nhập thể, Chúa Kitô vẫn chưa được hình thành trong trong thế giứi tạo vật của chúng ta. Đức Kitô vẫn chưa trở thành một phần của nhân loại chúng ta. Sau khi Đức Maria nói "xin VÂNG" với Thiên Chúa, và cô đã thực sự mang chính Con của Thiên Chúa trong lòng mình, một con người hoàn toàn là con người và cũng hoàn toàn là Thiên Chúa, Ngài sẽ làm cho mọi người biết đến Thiên Chúa trong thế giới của chúng ta và đem tình yêu của Chúa Cha đến với chúng ta, qua việc Ngài thực hiện lời hứa cứu chuộc của Ngài và mang niềm hy vọng cụa ngài đến với nhân loại.

Đức Maria mang trong lòng cô tình yêu của Thiên Chúa, và cuộc thăm viếng bà Elizabeth, đã làm đứa trẻ trong bụng bà Elizabeth đã nhẩy mừng và chúc mừng cô. Đây là biểu tượng của niềm hy vọng của chúng ta, đó là sự cam kết mà chúng ta hy vọng sẽ được thành tụ, đó là lời hứa mà con người chúng ta, có thể phát triển trong sự trưởng thành cần thiết để đạt được sự cứu rỗi.

REFLECTION

Today's feast, the Visitation, is a celebration of hope. Without hope, is there anything in the world that we might possibly find attractive? We need hope. Just look about the world, not only in our country, but throughout the entire world. Immense stores of hatred, selfishness and cynicism that motivate the most inhuman crimes assault our senses. The brutality, the animal passions let loose are portrayed vividly in print and picture and show a world without hope. The world our Lady was born into was undoubtedly more hopeless, for Christ was not yet conceived in it. Christ had not yet become a part of our humanity. Then our Lady said "yes" to God, and the child she bore was indeed God's own Son. As fully human as he was divine, he would make known in our world his father’s love for us, his promise of redemption and the hope that this promise bears. Our Lady carrying within her womb the Love of God, and journeying to Elizabeth, the child in her womb blessing and quickening the child Elizabeth carried: this is the symbol of our hope, it is the pledge that our hope will be fulfilled, it is the promise that we, the human race, can grow to the maturity needed to attain salvation.

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2022

Opening Prayer: Mary my Mother, as I begin this time of prayer, I ask you to help me be open to God’s visitation in my life, in imitation of you and of St. John the Baptist in his mother’s womb. Teach me to have a child’s heart to wonder at God’s work and not grow accustomed to the powerful truth of his indwelling.

Encountering Christ:

0. Mary Traveled in Haste: In clear witness to the Holy Spirit’s action in her, Mary’s immediate response to the angel’s visit was service. Having experienced God’s overflowing love and grace in her life, she was immediately moved to offer herself as an instrument of that grace for others. Mary was aware from the start that God’s grace in her life was not a trophy or an accomplishment. She has been blessed, but the blessing she has received was not only for her, but for the whole human race. Having received the gift of God’s visitation, she opened her heart to be transformed into a gift for others in her own visitation to her cousin Elizabeth.

1. The Infant Leaped: From the mouths of babes God has brought forth praise (Psalm 8:2). The poor and the humble, the weak and the outcast—often these are the first to recognize God’s action in this world. Their hearts are not tainted by the lure of passing earthly riches. They are not grasping and calculating but open and receptive, both to receiving and giving selfless love. Their hearts are open to God’s visitation, and they have a special sensitivity to the wonder of God’s action in this world. The child carried in Elizabeth’s womb was the first to detect God’s presence in Mary’s virginal womb and the first to do him homage. His silent testimony is an invitation to us to take the time to pause and receive God’s saving presence as it manifests itself each and every day in our lives.

2. My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord: What a privilege it is to look through this window into the soul of our Blessed Mother! Her heart was brimming with thanksgiving to God, such that anything and everything became an occasion for praise. Upon receiving Elizabeth’s words of admiration, her thoughts went directly to the greatness of God who had looked upon her with favor. She had no need to deflect the compliment, for her attention did not rest on herself for even an instant. Her heart’s gaze was so purely set on God that her hymn of praise sprang forth without even the slightest taint of pretension. She was overwhelmed with awe at the Father’s gratuitous love. The purity and simplicity of her absolute trust in him as the source of all blessing radiated from her in an invitation to all to place their trust in God alone rather than in human strength and striving.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your Mother was so prompt to recognize your presence and action. She knew that you are the source of every blessing. Her open, docile heart allowed you to shower your blessing upon her and upon all of us through her. Grant me the grace to have a heart that is willing to risk letting go of control, to surrender to your love in trust. In learning to recognize your blessing in my own life, may I also become a source of blessing for others.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take a moment at the end of the day to raise my heart in praise for your action in my life, pausing to thank you for your hidden presence in specific moments that I call to mind.

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2021

Opening Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I long to know you better and love you more. I desire to contemplate your Scriptures with the eyes of faith. On this last day of May, open my mind and heart to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, that I may rejoice with Mary in contemplating your goodness to me and to all mankind.

Encountering Christ:

Mary Set Out in Haste: Whenever we contemplate Mary in the Scriptures, her humility is apparent. She was humble enough to consent to the message of the angel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord” (Luke 1:38). Here, she was humble enough to make haste to assist Elizabeth. The remarkable fact that she had just conceived the Son of the Most High in her womb did not keep her from seeing the needs of those around her. Her charity was concrete and immediate. Mary’s rapid response was the fruit of her humility; her focus was not on herself. She maintained this attitude of humble service throughout her life: sharing Jesus with the shepherds and kings in Bethlehem, noticing there was no wine at the wedding of Cana, and gathering the Apostles in prayer while awaiting the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed Is the Fruit of Your Womb: Mary undoubtedly assisted Elizabeth with numerous chores around the house, for which Elizabeth would have been most grateful. However, filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth’s joyful proclamation was, “How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth was overjoyed upon seeing Mary because she brought Jesus with her. His title, Emmanuel, or “God with us,” was literally coming true in Elizabeth’s presence, and both she and the child within her womb rejoiced. In all its works of corporal mercy, the Church ultimately wants to communicate Christ’s presence. After any material benefits from such works may have disappeared, such as a shared meal long since digested, the seeds of grace, faith, and love may last—hopefully into eternity. Bringing Christ to people must remain our primary focus. Mary gave us an example of such focus.

My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord: Rooted in humility, Mary’s openness to God and neighbor allowed the Holy Spirit to fill her heart with exuberant joy. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary must have been radiantly beaming during this song of praise for God her Savior. Even while acknowledging the grandeur of what was happening to her, “from now on will all ages call me blessed,” she still gave all the glory to God, “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Mary’s Magnificat is a foretaste of the joyous praise that souls will give to God in heaven. However, as Christians, we possess Christ in our souls through grace, and even in this life, we should constantly and joyfully sing Our Lord’s praises.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, I praise and glorify the wonderful things you have done in my own life. You created me. You called me into your Mystical Body through baptism. You nourish me with your Body and Blood. You have repeatedly forgiven my sins. You have given me your Holy Spirit to guide me in my particular mission. You have placed the saints and my fellow Christians along my path. Like your Blessed Mother, I ask you, Lord, that I may continuously sing your praises in all circumstances.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will seek out three brief moments to express joy and gratitude for the many gifts you have given me.