I was a little nervous when I saw that this Sunday is the feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but later on, I became calm… I said, ‘anyway, I don’t need to explain the Mystery, but to share the gospel.

Beautiful gospel: The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth and the Magnificat!

“Mary… entered the house of Zechariah…” Before, there was no need to lock the houses because there were no dangers.  I can remember in our house, on my island, that until a few years ago, the key of the main door was never removed, even at night; but now, we cannot do that.  This brings me to a question that we have to ask ourselves so many times: Are our communities’ open doors?  Are we welcoming?

“…the infant leaped in her womb – of Elizabeth -”; I am wondering if our greetings, our sayings to the people, make them leap of joy or by the contrary, disappoint them and make them sad.  Let us pay attention to our greetings, our gaze, our smile, our listening to others… We can also question ourselves: how do we react in front of people, our sisters, our friends, when they are successful? Do we feel happy? Or, do we feel bad because of the envy and jealousy that blind my heart? And, if we have something to change, let’s change!

“…and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb and how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’ For… the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are virtuous, we say good things, and we behave well… Let us pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that we make the people around us.  When we do not pay attention to the Holy Spirit moving us, we become judgmental and uncomfortable for others.  Let us follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit that people will be moved around us, with our presence, with our comforting words, words of understanding…

Fruit of the Holy Spirit is also a feeling of humility… who am I?   That you, the mother of God, visited me? We are more prone to feel the pride of our giftedness.  And also, Mary: “…for He has looked with favor on his lowly servant”.

Mary responded with the Magnificat to the good sayings of Elizabeth, recognizing those blessings of God in her.  We can consider three parts in the Magnificat:

First part: the overwhelming feelings of Mary because of the greatness of the Lord in her.

Second part: the good works that the Lord has made to His people: He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation; He has lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things.  On the other hand, He has scattered the proud in their conceit; He has cast down the mighty from their thrones; and the rich He has sent away empty.

Third part: Mary remembers the mercies of God to his people and the promises of compassion for His descendants.

As CMT sisters, what is the relevance of this celebration of Mary?

For me, in the first place, as Fr. Palau says, we have to pay attention to our ‘true’ Marian devotion: “I saw the Virgin Mary and her glorified body, forming with Christ her Son, the Head of the Triumphant Church. And as I was astounded by the marvel of such a mystery, she said to me: ‘With my Son I am the head of the Church, just as Adam and Eve were head of the human race according to the flesh. I am the only, perfect, complete type of the Church distinguished with a woman’s body; see in me the Church, your beloved… I am not the final end of man’s love, but I am the figure of the Church, pure Virgin and fruitful Mother, and this is the beloved object designed by the law of the Gospel, which is the law of charity. These religious rites which the earth offers to me in the whole world, I ordain to another virgin and mother who is the Spouse of my Son” (MR 8, 15).

Secondly, how is our commitment with the lowly, the hungry, the least, the last and the lost, the victims of injustices…?

Thirdly, what is our Magnificat? How do we recognize the goodness of the Lord in us?

May this celebration of Mary, be an eye opener for us to be grateful for the blessings of God, committed with the needy and true Marian persons, that in Mary we can recognize the Church.

 

Our Lady of Virtues Community

Pangantucan, Filipinas