Grace and peace be with you, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, as the new day dawns, painting the eastern sky with the soft hues of God’s unfailing mercy. As we gather our thoughts and prayers this morning, let us turn our hearts toward a profound mystery of divine charity and joyful service: the Visitation of our Blessed Mother to her kinswoman Elizabeth.
The Hastening Heart of Charity
In the sacred narrative, after the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God, and also revealed Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy in her old age, Scripture tells us that Mary “arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah” (Luke 1:39). Consider, dear souls, this profound “haste.” It was not born of anxiety or mere curiosity, but of an ardent, overflowing charity. Mary, having just received the greatest grace imaginable, did not turn inward to savor her blessedness alone. No, her Immaculate Heart, ever attentive to God’s will and neighbor’s need, immediately impelled her to serve.
She carried within her the Incarnate Word, the very Light of the World, and she knew that this Light was meant to shine for all. Her journey, therefore, was the very first Christian mission, a profound act of evangelization. She bore Christ not in a sermon, nor in a grand display, but in the hidden sanctuary of her womb, bringing His sanctifying presence to another. What a sublime example for each one of us, especially those dedicated to the mission of Sanctus Mission, for we are all called to be bearers of Christ to the world!
The Joyful Encounter and Its Fruits
Upon Mary’s greeting, a miracle unfolded: “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41). John the Baptist, still in his mother’s womb, recognized his Lord and was filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the fruit of Mary’s charity: bringing Christ brings divine joy and sanctification. Elizabeth, too, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). Her words, inspired by the Spirit, form part of our daily Hail Mary, a perpetual testament to Mary’s blessedness and the power of God dwelling within her.
And Mary, ever humble, responded not with self-congratulation, but with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise that magnifies the Lord and rejoices in His saving power, particularly for the humble and the lowly. It is a song that reverberates through the ages, reminding us that God casts down the proud and exalts the humble, filling the hungry with good things.
“Remember that charity is the queen of virtues, and that all the others without it are as nothing. If your deeds are without charity, they are as an empty shell.”
Indeed, Mary’s entire journey was steeped in this queen of virtues. Her haste was not hurriedness, but an eager surrender to charity’s call, a desire to impart the grace she had received. This spirit, dear friends, is the lifeblood of our endeavors, whether we are crafting sacred art, serving the poor in distant lands, or simply striving to live a life pleasing to God in our daily duties.
Bearing Christ in Our Own Haste
This morning, let us reflect on our own “haste.” Are we swift to respond to the promptings of grace? Do we carry Christ in our hearts with such fervor that His presence radiates through our actions, bringing joy and sanctification to those we encounter? Just as Mary brought Christ to Elizabeth, so too are we called to bring Christ to our families, our communities, and indeed, to the farthest corners of the earth through our prayers, sacrifices, and support of worthy missions.
The artisans supported by Sanctus Mission, in their dedication to beauty and truth, echo Mary's faithful service, crafting vessels of grace and wonder that lift the soul to God. The missionaries, in their tireless work, emulate her journey into the hill country, bringing the Word Incarnate to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Let us, then, embrace our own call to be Christ-bearers, to share the abundant grace we have received, always with humility, always with charity, and always with joyful haste.
May this morning’s reflection ignite within us a renewed zeal to serve God and neighbor, following the immaculate example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who showed us how to carry Christ into the world.
O Blessed Mother, who hastened with joyful heart to share the grace of Christ, intercede for us, that we too may be humble and zealous bearers of Your Son’s love to all we meet. Amen.