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Thursday, May 31, 2012

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Visitation of Mary


Zephaniah 3:14-18 or
Romans 12:9-16
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 1:39-56

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rivers of living water (jn 7:38)

"Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart." —Zephaniah 3:14

Four days ago, we received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. To keep the Holy Spirit, we must give it away. We hope we're even more than Spirit-filled, that we're Spirit-overflowing so every time we open our mouths "our cup runneth over" (Ps 23:5, our translation), and all those around us receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Mary was overflowing. At Mary's greeting, "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit" (Lk 1:41). Even the baby in her womb jumped for joy and received the Holy Spirit. Mary was so overflowing with the Spirit she filled up anyone around who was open. After overflowing and filling two vessels, you'd think the flow would subside. With the Holy Spirit, however, the more you overflow, you overflow all the more. It's like that water coming from the temple in Ezekiel. The farther the water flows, the higher it gets (Ez 47:5).

Therefore, Mary is not emptied by her outpouring of the Spirit, but overflows yet again as she "proclaims the greatness of the Lord" (Lk 1:46) and finds joy in God, her Savior. From within her, rivers of living water flow (Jn 7:38).

"There's a river of life flowing out through me. It makes the lame to walk and the blind to see."

Prayer:  Father, may the water Jesus gives become a fountain within us leaping up to provide eternal life (Jn 4:14).

Promise:  "The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty Savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love, He will sing joyfully because of you." —Zep 3:17

Praise:  "Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45).

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Mary's Visitation on audio AV 73-3 or video V-73.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 31, 2011

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