The Visitation of Mary 

In the Gospel of Luke 1, we read the narrative of the Visitation of Elizabeth by Mary, the Blessed Mother. It occurred shortly after Mary had her own visitation by the Archangel Gabriel in which Mary heard the most shocking but exciting news: 

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his Father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:30-33).

After Mary’s awe expression, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” and the Angel’s assuring message, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you… for nothing will be impossible for God,” Mary surrendered completely and unreservedly, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” As soon as the angel departed, Mary did not storm to the street and in the community to gleefully announce and celebrate what she would become, instead, she “set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah” to visit Elizabeth. 

But why did she go with such speed and purpose? Why did she leave right away? Because she has found her mission. She has found her role in the Theo-drama. Today, we are dominated by the ego-drama in all of its ramifications and implications. The ego-drama is the play that I am writing; it is the play that you are writing. It is the drama that I am producing. It is the drama you are producing. It is the drama that I am directing; it the drama you are directing. Above all, it is the drama that I am featuring in and you are featuring in it as well. Today in our culture, we see this everywhere. We see it where absolute freedom of choice is reigning supreme. I become the person I choose to be, you become the person you choose to be. But the Theo-drama is the great story being told by God. It is the great play being directed by God. What makes life thrilling therefore is to discover your role in that drama. This is precisely what happens to Mary. In a dramatic fashion she found her role in the Theo-drama and wants to share it with Elizabeth who has also discovered her role in that same drama. 

The story of the visitation challenges us to meditate on the following questions: Have you searched and discovered your role in God’s story? What is it? Are you willing to abandon ego-drama for the Theo-drama? Are you ready to emulate the simple, yet bold example left for us by our Blessed Mother Mother? The ego-drama leads to nowhere exciting and exalting, but the Theo-drama does. 

— Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

     Wednesday, March 17, 2021