One of the teachings issuing from the “Fraternity of Priests” group, to which I belong, is the so called “Visitation” message. It is a reminder of one of the basic teachings of the Church and Scripture, that is, God has not only “visited” His people in the past, but is still doing so at the present time. The Old Testament prophets announced the “visitation” message of the judgment of God on the people especially when they were disobeying Him by idolatry. Their call was one of repentance and obedience. This was a “visitation” message of often impending doom if they refused to obey God.
The prophets also announced a future “visitation” of God himself in the person of the Son of God. This coming or advent was unique in that God visited His people not only to proclaim a message, but to remain with the human race until the end of the world. The evangelist Matthew reports the words of Jesus BEFORE He ascended into heaven, “Know that I am with you always until the end of the world.” (Mt. 20:20) The evangelist Luke AFTER he recounts the Ascension of Jesus says: “The Lord continued to work with them throughout and confirm the message through the signs that accompanied them.” (Lk 16:20) Even though the Lord has disappeared in His physical form, He is still present in His Church, in the Sacraments, in the living proclamation of salvation to those who come to Him and obey Him. The Church does many wonderful things, but the primary reason we have a Church is to experience the salvation won for us by Jesus.
Advent is a time to remember that He is here now, even as we reflect on His past “visitation” on that first Christmas. The second joyful mystery of the rosary recounts Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth. When we meditate on this mystery we can ask Mary to visit us as she did to Elizabeth, and bring Jesus with her. There are so moments every day when God is ‘visiting” us. But we are often so busy and distracted that we are unaware.
Your daily “lectio divina” is a prime opportunity to not only mediate and reflect, but to listen to the message the Lord may be visiting on you in that moment. Sometimes the visitation message is very clear. It may be an explicit direction, or a very sensible experience of God. Other times, it seems like somebody turned off the lights and nothing seems to be happening in prayer. But God is still “visiting” us in a deeper way, deeper than the feelings that sometimes accompany prayer. Be still in that quiet presence and know that God’s advent runs 24/7.
Advent is a time to remember that He is here now, even as we reflect on His past “visitation” on that first Christmas. The second joyful mystery of the rosary recounts Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth. When we meditate on this mystery we can ask Mary to visit us as she did to Elizabeth, and bring Jesus with her. There are so moments every day when God is ‘visiting” us. But we are often so busy and distracted that we are unaware.
Your daily “lectio divina” is a prime opportunity to not only mediate and reflect, but to listen to the message the Lord may be visiting on you in that moment. Sometimes the visitation message is very clear. It may be an explicit direction, or a very sensible experience of God. Other times, it seems like somebody turned off the lights and nothing seems to be happening in prayer. But God is still “visiting” us in a deeper way, deeper than the feelings that sometimes accompany prayer. Be still in that quiet presence and know that God’s advent runs 24/7.