Today is the feast of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps it might be better called “The Encounter.”
Four people encounter each other – Mary, Jesus in her womb, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist in her womb.
Elizabeth greets Mary with words that are now part of the “Hail Mary.” John leaps in his mother’s womb. Mary responds with the Magnificat, a canticle of God’s liberating love. Jesus is just there – in Mary’s womb.
Jesus does nothing but be present. He does not say anything; he doesn’t move in Mary’s womb. He is just there.
That is the mystery of the encounter with God – Jesus is, Jesus is present.
How do we respond?
Do we recognize Him as Elizabeth and John did?
Do we carry Him to others as Mary did?
Do we even recognize Him?
Perhaps we need to recall this paraphrase of a poem of St. John of the Cross:
If you meet the Virgin
coming down the road,
ask her in —
she bears the Word of God.
Will we recognize Jesus and will we bear him to others?
—–
De Verbo divino
la Virgen preñada
viene de camino
si le dais posada.
walk the way 