The Visitation (One Year Lectionary)

Isaiah 11:1–5
Romans 12:9–16
Luke 1:39–45 (46–56)

The Visitation

Today Zechariah’s house is prepared to sing: “The Lord God of Israel … has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). For the Scriptures are being fulfilled: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Is. 11:1). What could raise a king from a dead line? Only the Lord Himself! This is no son of man’s will, but the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15). The Word of the Lord has done this, and so all are blessed in Him. The “greeting” of blessed Mary causes John to leap in Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:41). Both are delighted at what the Word has wrought: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45). Likewise we, too, “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Rom. 12:12–15), for our joyful hope is in the Lord who has visited us to redeem us — not just a town in Judah but our entire fallen world. The Holy Spirit discloses where salvation is to be found: in the most blessed fruit of Mary’s blessed womb. And the whole Church rejoices, saying, “My beloved! Behold, he comes” (Song of Songs 2:8).