Homily for Feast of the Visitation

Homily for the Feast of the Visitation

May 31, 2024
Zeph 3: 14-18
Luke 1: 39-56
Provincial House, New Rochelle, N.Y.

by Frans Francken

“Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem” (Zeph 3: 14).

Zephaniah prophesied during a difficult period for the kingdom of Judah:  the brutal power of Assyria loomed over the kingdom and idolatry plagued the people.  So Zephaniah wasn’t much given to joy.

But he positively cheers up in the last of his 3 chapters.  He bursts with joy and exultation, telling the people of the holy city to sing out enthusiastically, almost to break into dance, for God remains in their midst and will in the end deliver them (3:15).

John the Baptist didn’t break into song in his mother’s womb, but he did—in a manner of speaking—dance as salvation approached, as Mary came to Zechariah’s door and Elizabeth welcomed her and, surprisingly, John too.

John’s behavior calls to mind how David danced before the ark of the covenant as he led it into Jerusalem, its new home, almost 1,000 years earlier (2 Sam 6:14-16).

Mary is the new ark of God.  She doesn’t bear the tablets of the Law, Aaron’s staff, or bits of manna like Moses’ ark.  She bears the Lawgiver himself, whose law is love; the Good Shepherd himself, not a staff; the Bread of Life, the true manna from heaven.  He who dwells in this ark comes to make a home among the human race; he gives ample reason to leap for joy, to sing, and to dance.  “The Lord our God is in our midst” (cf. Zeph 3:15).

And Mary has reason to burst into song:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).  The Lord comes to the help of his lowly servants (1:52,54).