💖 HOMILY - MAY 31 💖

FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

First Reading - Romans 12:9-16

Gospel - Luke 1:39-56

We’ve often heard the saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” These words are simple, but they carry a profound truth—true friendship, real love, reveals itself most clearly not when things are easy, but when someone is in need. Today’s readings echo this very message and invite us to embrace the commandment of love, not just as an ideal, but as a way of life.

In the first reading, Paul speaks directly to the Christian community in Rome, offering them a clear and practical guide to living out the commandment of love. Love, according to Paul, is not simply a warm feeling or kind words. It is rooted in action, in sincere care for others. Paul reminds the early Christians—and us—that love should be genuine, not fake or superficial. It must show itself in preferring good over evil, in honoring others, in being patient in trials, in sharing with those in need, and in being joyful with those who rejoice and weeping with those who mourn. Love, for Paul, is something you do. It is concrete, visible, and sacrificial.

We see this love in action most beautifully in today’s Gospel passage. Mary, having just received the incredible news that she would be the mother of the Messiah, does not withdraw to reflect on her own future or glory. Instead, she immediately sets out on a journey—miles on foot—to be with her cousin Elizabeth. This was no small task, especially for a young woman who had just received such a profound revelation. But Mary's first thought is for someone else. Her faith in God’s message moves her to charity. She recognizes Elizabeth’s need and responds with love, presence, and service.

This moment in Mary’s life teaches us a vital lesson. True faith always leads to action. Mary believed, and because she believed, she acted. Her love was not abstract—it was visible in her decision to be there for Elizabeth. She didn’t wait to be asked. She saw the need and responded. That is love.

Dear friends, the commandment of love is not just a spiritual rule; it is the heart of Christian living. And it is tested not in easy moments, but when others are struggling—when someone is sick, grieving, feeling lonely, or in need of support. It is easy to speak of love, but harder to live it when it means going out of our comfort zones. Paul invites us to show love that is sincere, practical, and rooted in real concern for others. He calls us to overcome jealousy, indifference, and the temptation to treat others as means to an end.

Too often, our relationships become marked by self-interest or surface-level concern. We might say the right things but fail to act when someone is truly in need. Or we might be so caught up in our own plans that we don’t even notice the struggles of those around us. But today, through Mary’s example and Paul’s exhortation, we are called back to the essence of Christian life: love that acts, love that serves, love that sees the other as a friend, especially in times of need.

Let’s ask ourselves: Are we sensitive to the needs of others, as Mary was to Elizabeth? Do we live out our love in concrete actions, as Paul encourages? Are our relationships marked by sincerity and compassion, or have they become shallow or self-centered?

Let us pray that God will soften our hearts, open our eyes to the needs around us, and give us the courage to love as Mary did—with faith, with urgency, and with joy. May we be friends not only in word, but in deed—friends who love genuinely, serve willingly, and bring Christ’s presence wherever we go.