Feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
Edward Hayes
The Old Hermit's Almanac
Forest of Peace Publishing Co.

Today's festival celebrates the day when Mary of Nazareth hurried to visit her relative, the aged Elizabeth, whose wrinkled womb had been visited by God with a child.  Her son John would become the famous John the Baptizer, who would prepare the way for Mary's son, Jesus.

When the angel Gabriel responded to Mary's surprise that the Holy Spirit would fill her womb, she was told that aged Elizabeth was also pregnant by the Spirit and that, "with God, all things are possible."  That angelic message is as joyously true today as when it was first spoken, and it should become part of our daily prayer. It could be added to the prayer of the Hail Mary and the Lord's Prayer, perhaps just before the final Amen.

Repeated frequently, this six-word phrase gives us hope for this day and for each of our tomorrows. With God, all things are possible:  the removal of war, exploitation, the sin of racial prejudice and all the present evils of the world.

Reflection
What impossible thing in our lives is waiting for our trusting prayer:
"with God, all things are possible".  crsr