GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 31ST MAY 2017
FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-18 or Romans 12:9-16
CANTICLE: Isaiah 12:2-6
GOSPEL: Luke 1:39-56
THEME: BLESSED AMONG WOMEN
Not long ago, the world celebrated “Mother’s Day”. It was a celebration of honouring mothers and maternal bonds and also to reflect on the influence of women in society. It was exhilarating reading some of the posts on motherhood on social media. In sum, there is a growing awareness that mothers are worth celebrating.
Mary too is a mother. She is the mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. A Christian who refuses to give honour to this woman gives no honour to her Son.
In our Gospel text for today, Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit was moved to honour Mary with the words, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:42-44).
If Elizabeth considered the visit of Mary as honourable, then it is a mark of gross disrespect for anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian to dishonour the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ either in words or actions.
Mary is one of us, in so far as she too is a created human being. However, the grace of God has placed her on a unique pedestal and made her a model for all generations. Her very life is a definition of faith and in her we have come to see what it means to submit oneself unreservedly to the Word of God.
As we celebrate a woman whose “YES” to God changed the course of history, we are also challenged to bring about a change in our marriages, families, homes, workplaces and society by saying “YES” to the Word of God.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, in the fullness of time, you chose to be born into this world through a woman. In honouring your mother, I celebrate the power of your Word to cause change. Pour into my heart the grace that filled your mother and by my life, may I glorify and honour you. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).