The Visitation by Domenico Ghirlandaio 1486-1490

This reflection is based on Luke 1:39-45 and the Joyful Mysteries: The Visitation.

At the sound of Mary’s greeting the pre-born child John leaped in his mother Elizabeth’s womb. I often wonder about Mary’s greeting, what she said, how far off she was etc.

I imagine the words of Mary’s greeting to be the common Hebrew greeting, “Shalom!” Shalom as you probably know is the Hebrew word for peace but it also means completeness, which implies wellness or wholeness. This greeting coming from our mother who alone received the fullness of grace is a great blessing indeed. Jesus greeted the disciples this way so it is fitting that Mary should greet us this way also. In her many apparitions Mary repeats the phrase, “Peace, peace, peace.” So when I pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and I get to the Visitation, I now imagine Mary entering the room (her relative’s room and also my own room) and greeting everyone with, “Peace!” and blessing us from the fullness of grace that she received.

Notes:
In paintings Mary is often (but not always) pictured greeting Elizabeth outside the home yet in scripture it is written that she entered before she spoke her greeting. This may be a cultural custom or it may be that the outside grounds are considered part of the home. This also shows me how today Mary enters the homes of those who welcome her in prayer.

Various paintings of the visitation showing the greeting outside:

Visitation by Fra Angelico 1433-34

The Visitation by John of Stagnos, 1637

Visitation of Mary by Rogier van der Weyden 1440-1445

Visitation

O blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

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The Transfiguration (top portion), Raffaello Sanzio 1516- 1520

Isaiah 66:7-8

7Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came to be delivered, she brought forth a man child.

8Who hath ever heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like to this? shall the earth bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be brought forth at once, because Sion hath been in labour, and hath brought forth her children?

Resource:
National Catholic Register – Guide to the Rosary, Copyright 2003 Circle Media Inc., pg 25

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1596-97 Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp

Wine is representative of the work of human hands because the grapes must be cultivated, harvested, crushed and contained.  So when the wine runs out it is representative of the insufficiency of man’s work to provide the elements that facilitate joy and celebration.  Since the wedding is a union of man and woman, who are in the likeness of God, it represents the coming together of Heaven and Earth.  The question then arises, how will the celebration go on when the wine runs out, or how will the union of man and God be celebrated if man’s work is insufficient?  Christ Himself must make up for our insufficiencies.  Since no man’s work is sufficient on its own merit to bring him to God, God must make up the difference.  How does Jesus bridge the gap?  Jesus first instructs the workers to fill jars with water.  And here is where every Christian journey begins, with instruction and the purifying waters of baptism. Take notice in John 2:6 that the stone water jars that are used for this miracle are intended to be used for purifying (ceremonial washing: NAB).  The baptismal waters are just a beginning because the water must be turned to wine before the head waiter approves.  In a sense the head waiter is like God the Father who at His son’s baptism declares, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Similarly, the head waiter approves of the wine in an extraordinary way.  The wine that Christ makes is more than sufficient in both quantity and quality and the head waiter testifies that it is better than the first wine, which was already good.  This refers to the first or Old Covenant which is good not because of man’s effort but because of God’s goodness.  Now the New Covenant that the Father makes is greater than the first covenant because the sacrifice will not be the blood of creatures but of His own Son.  In the context of a wedding celebration this covenant shows God’s plan to save the celebration of life, which is the union of man to God.  This plan involves the obedience of man, our receptiveness to His instruction and our effort in carrying out that instruction no matter how insufficient our work is.  We see this kind of obedience in the actions of the waiters whom Mary tells to do as Jesus says. 

Institution of the Holy Eucharist

In this plan, Jesus leads us from one sacrament to another; from repentance through Baptism to communion through the Holy Eucharist.  For now, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He makes the water into wine yet when His ministry culminates in the Senegal and on the Cross He will make the wine into His blood.  It is through water that we come to His Body and Blood; it is through Baptism that we come to the Holy Eucharist.
© Tim Bartel 2009

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This post is the result of an Ignatius exercise I did a year ago.  The exercise is to contrast the devil’s standard with Christ’s standard.  Although I completed the meditation I did not write type the second half (I may have hand written notes but I cannot find them at present).  I can still recall some of the images of Christ’s standard and perhaps if I do the exercise again (or if I find my notes) I will publish the second part.

Part ONE:

Paradise Lost - Gustave Dore

 When I woke up the smoke and fire, dragon and beasts, drumbeat, webs and people were all gone from my sight and I could breathe and feel my heart beating for itself once again.  Was it real?  I had no doubt even if no one would ever believe me.  Gaining my strength I got up and went down the hill into my field to breath in the thick air sweetened with wheat.  The grains had grown tall.  They were over my head and sun illuminated their dancing heads as the stalks brushed against each other to the movement of gentle breezes.  They made a heartwarming bustling sound like women dressed to the hilt in beautiful gowns rushing to make ready for a grand ball.  As I moved through the field the waves of stalks parted but for one that stood directly in my path.  It was not a stalk of grain but a weed, darker and stronger that the wheat.  I thought to cut it down and as I grabbed a hold of the stalk I came close enough to it to see that it had my name written on the main stem.  Then when I recoiled, startled at this, I saw another weed and another and still many more all with my name on them.

 Note about part two:

In the second part I fall prey to the drum beat but am rescued by a flood of water and am carried on its waves to a brighter land where I meet a king who bids me to sow better seeds.

 © Tim Bartel 2008

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Holy Family in the Workhop

When dinner is ended the boy Jesus addresses me.  His hair is wavy and His skin dark and tanned.  He is young.  I am aware that He is about seven but he acts more like nine or ten.  He is mature beyond his age but excited to speak and to show me something.  “Come, come with me,” He invites, “I want to show you my father’s workshop.”  At once I am aware that the workshop is Joseph’s but also metaphorically the workshop of the Father in heaven.  We get there instantly, and the Child Jesus explains, “We build many things here, my father and I.”  I am aware that this means also that He and His Devine Father made all things.  I notice a stain on a length of wood and Jesus responds, “Yes, it is my blood.  I have spilled my blood on the wood many times working here.  This isn’t the first and it will not be the last.”  I am aware that this is literal and also that it means it is not His last drop of blood but that He will give His last drop also in a work involving wood, the wood of the cross.  Young Jesus continues, “We begin work here on Sunday and continue through the week.  Thursday is the hardest.”  I am aware that this extra load of work on Thursday is a foreshadowing of his passion that begins in agony and that The Child Jesus contemplates while at work.  He continues, “On Saturday we go into the house and pray.  We pray as we remember the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.  We pray for our own deliverance from Egypt and we pray for your deliverance from your Egypt.”  I am aware that “your Egypt” means both the general salvation of all souls from the hands of the evil one and also deliverance from my personal enslavement to sin.

© Tim Bartel 2008

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