Today is Friday 31 May, the feast of the Visitation of Our Lady, in the 8th week of Ordinary Time. Magnificat anima mea Dominum. My soul glorifies the Lord. As you begin this time of prayer today, what do you want to give thanks for, to praise God for? For these few moments, allow your mind to dwell on those things for which you are grateful to God. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 1:39-56 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’ And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home. This is a moving account of a meeting between two delighted women. Both want to celebrate their lives at this time, the gifts they have received. What are the images or words that stay with you from their encounter? How do you react to their delight? In what ways do these women draw you into prayer? Perhaps you are drawn to praise God with them. Take a few moments to be with God. Let yourself be present to God with whatever you are feeling, whether or not you share this mood of delight. As you listen again to Mary’s words, notice how you feel in response to her prayer. Once again let yourself be present to God, noticing how you are feeling, and now let those feelings draw you into conversation with God. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.