Zephaniah 3:14-18 or Romans 12:9-16 / Luke 1:39-56
The beginnings of this feast came about in the early 13th century at the height of the Marian devotion.
This feast was later extended to the entire Church in 1389 with the hope that Christ and His Mother would visit the Church and put an end to the schisms and divisions which were tearing up the Church of Christ.
Yet, this feast is as relevant and important now as it was then and as it was throughout the centuries.
And this feast is as relevant and important for the Church as well as for each of us.
Just as the Church faced many dark and terrible moments in her history, we too face many trials and challenges as we strive to live out our faith.
At times, the distress, the pain and the hurt may be a bit too unbearable and our faith is shaken and our hope wavers and our love runs dry.
Yet, the Lord promised to be our help and our strength.
In the gospel, Elizabeth said of Mary: Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.
This feast is a celebration of God who is our salvation.
That's why the 1st reading says: Shout for joy, shout aloud; rejoice, exult with all your heart.
Yes, the Mother of God comes with the Lord to visit His people in their need.
The Mother of God will also come with the Lord Jesus to visit us in our need and especially in our time of distress.
The Lord has done great things for Mary. The Lord will also do great things for us.
For that we only need to rejoice and shout for joy and give thanks to the Lord our Saviour.