Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the meaning of true joy

The complaint, “I'm not happy” seems to be a popular mantra these days. We find ourselves pursuing happiness as if it were an entitlement program. We become discouraged and may use lack of happiness as an excuse to end a marriage, change a career, find a new school, complain endlessly about the weather, or just become unpleasant to be around.

Now, I don't mean to sound like Ebeneezer Scrooge. We are not meant to live in misery and our daily lives should enjoy fulfillment and satisfaction. Nothing wrong with having fun - its healthy. Yet, I bring this up because happiness is not the end all and be all of life. It is a by-product of something far more meaningful – Peace within. If we are at peace within ourselves, then “happiness” follows. This peace is found in right relationship with God, with my neighbor and in the pursuit of harmony and balance in my life. In spite of the challenges of every day life, we find that place within ourselves, that point where we find God in his Spirit dwelling within us, and that discovery brings happiness – or better even yet, it produces great joy.

Today's Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Feast filled with great joy. Our readings for Mass today in (Zephaniah 3: 14-18): “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart . . . He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love . . .” are infectious with joy.

The Gospel scene (Luke 1: 39-56) of the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, her much older cousin, is deeply touching and among the most joy-filled in the New Testament: “. . . For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy . . .And Mary said: 'My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior . . .'” I see contagious smiles on the faces of these two chosen women but even more, one can sense their overwhelming peace and a happiness rooted in what God has done.

They are joyful not because they've just won the lottery or inherited millions of dollars from a family member. Not because they've just cleared their debts or entered into marriage with a man they are deeply in love with. Not because the sun is shining on a beautiful spring day nor because they've been given a clean bill of health from their doctor. While such events may bring happiness, is that all there is to living?

We would label these “good times,” or ourselves lucky or fortunate or blessed, but such events pass away. If I won the lottery, for example, I may be momentarily stunned and happy. All my financial worries and concerns are over! Really? How much money would be too much? Not enough? Once that money is gone and I suddenly find my long lost relatives no longer knocking on my door, calling on the phone or sending emails, then what? No more worries? My life would be consumed with concerns over investments, owed taxes, interest rates, money markets, stock prices, and how much I've spent on what, how much I have left, and how big and balanced and smart is my portfolio. The joy of Mary and Elizabeth is beyond anything material – it is God centered and faith filled. That is not something all the money in the world can buy and it is at the root of a meaningful and purpose filled life.

Mary and Elizabeth, granted, had received many great graces from God. Their joy was unique and singular as one was chosen to be the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah and the other the human mother of the incarnate Word of God – Jesus the Christ. There is great mystery here and direct Divine intervention. But, to be touched by God so deeply and personally is possible for any of us, albeit in a lesser degree but capable of producing a deep, abiding, peace nonetheless. What is the purpose of my life? To find true Shalom – peace, goodness, right relationship with God and others.

This is a relatively new Feast as Church celebrations generally go. It roots back to the 13th century and the Franciscan Order. It's placement on May 31st is also relatively new. Assuming that the Incarnation (the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary) took place about the vernal equinox, Mary left Nazareth at the end of March and went south over the mountains to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to wait upon her cousin Elizabeth. Mary's child would be the source of graces to Elizabeth's child, John. What those graces, the full destiny of each child would eventually become were likely hidden from the mind of both Mary and Elizabeth. Yet, their joy, that of being singled out in the plan of salvation, was overwhelming in its scope. The events that had transpired in their lives caught them up in both mystery and wonder.

What of us? In this touching scene, as Mary brings good news to Elizabeth, she becomes the first to announce salvation to the world. She becomes the first to proclaim what God will do through her child:

“He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy. The promise he made to our father, to Abraham and his children for ever.” (Lk 1: 51-55).

What have you heard of the good news and how have you reacted to what you've heard? Catholics suffer the danger of routine – especially during the celebration of the Eucharist. We are so familiar with the order of Mass, for example, that we may find a comfort zone. I cringe when I hear from parishioners, thankfully not consistently, "I went to this Mass just to get it over with!" Yikes!

As priest, I have celebrated literally thousands of Masses. I stopped counting within the first month of my priesthood. I've heard thousands of confessions; baptized hundreds; anointed hundreds; married and buried hundreds. God save me from becoming “routine” and dull. “Let's just get is over with,” would be a death knell.

Sure, we are human. We get tired, bored, lazy, comfortable, and seek the easiest and most efficient route at times. But when it comes to our faith, when we hear the good news of the Gospel announced to us, what better model do we have than the humble and joyful cry of Elizabeth: “Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me . . . Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.'” (Lk 1: 49).

May we always pursue a joy that only faith and trust in God can bring. May we hear the good news of God among us in Jesus Christ announced and respond with a deep abiding joy.

And Mary said: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”