Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection May 31, 2025
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
31st May 2025 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcde, 5-6 (R. 6b)
R/. Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Or: Alleluia.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are you Virgin Mary, who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to you from the Lord.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Main Point: Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth is not just an individual visit but symbolizes the very visitation of God Himself to humanity, with His gracious face, turned toward suffering humanity
1. Mary visits Elizabeth, and this visitation is very significant. It is not just a courtesy visit. It is not only a great act of charity and service to Elizabeth in need during her pregnancy. It is deeply symbolic and efficacious. It indicates the very visitation of God Himself, and the actualization of its effects on humanity.
2. In the Bible through the history of salvation, visitation of God signifies His active and liberating intervention in the life of His people. Accordingly, “God visits” signifies that God is encountering and gracing that person or that community. Today in the visitation of Mary, the same happens: The Saviour, conceived in Mary’s womb, visits Elizabeth and graces her and her family, who symbolizes the whole of humanity.
3. Mary is the perfect embodiment of God’s will and presence. She is the abode of Jesus. She bears him within and shares him with others. She carries him in her and extends the same experience with others. What happens when God visits humanity in the person of Mary? This is what is concretely seen in the scene of the Visitation.
4. At the sight and encounter with Mary, two things happen: Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe in her womb leaps with joy. Jesus is channeled and mediated, transmitted and extended through Mary. Consequently, she gives the Holy Spirit and joy.
5. Thus, the effects of visitation are quite clear: Holy Spirit and joy. In fact, these two are the greatest signs and testimonies to having the presence and the experience of God: we are able to transmit the Holy Spirit to others and move and fill others with the same Spirit, and we are able to ignite others with true and deep joy.
6. But whenever we spread only evil spirits and unhappiness to others, it is a clear sign that we are not bearing Jesus within us, and we do not carry God’s experience and presence.
7. May the Mother Mary who visited Elizabeth continue to visit us, as God’s channel of grace! May she be a model and inspiration for us! May she sustain our tiny steps and efforts in carrying and spreading God’s Spirit and joy to all others!
