One of my favorite lines from today’s Gospel reading for the feast of the Visitation is Elizabeth’s exclamation of wonder at Mary’s visit to her: “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth is suddenly struck by the immensity of who it is that Mary carries in her womb, and in humility she recognizes just how incredible it is that through Mary the Lord has come to visit her.
Elizabeth’s wonder is both inspiring and challenging for me. When I reflect on this feast in light of the reality of the Eucharist, I am inspired to realize that what I experience in the Sacrament is even more awesome than Mary’s visit to her cousin. Yet I am also challenged to ask: where is my exclamation of wonder each time I receive the Lord? Let this be a consideration for our prayer today: to reflect on Elizabeth’s wonder and to ask for that grace that, whenever we next receive the Lord in the Eucharist, we might be struck more deeply by the immensity of Jesus’ visit to us.