One of my hobbies of late, in this long period of quietness online, has been gathering the appointed readings from various Prayer Books for the holy days in the Church year and lining them up as additional readings for the Daily Office for a deeper dive into these commemorations. In the case of today’s holiday, the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, most of the Prayer Book tradition did not appoint or observe this feast, so there aren’t as many different sources to pull from. But there are still enough readings to run with.

Preparation Readings

Isaiah 11:1-10 = One of Isaiah’s prophecies of the shoot (or branch) from the stump of Jesse, this is where we read the traditional sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit often associated with Confirmation, and pictures of nature at peace with itself because of the perfect reign of the Righteous Branch (Jesus). The inspiration of the Holy Spirit at the presence of the pre-natal Jesus is going to feature prominently in this holiday’s main story.

Hebrews 2:11-18 = Jesus is not afraid to call us (humanity) brothers, because he became incarnate, true man. His compassion and aid are thereby assured in his incarnation, which we are about to celebrate today.

Beginning the Feast

1 Samuel 1:1-20 = A barren woman receives a miraculous pregnancy! Hannah serves as a sort of type (or picture) both of Mary and of Elizabeth, who also experienced miraculous pregnancies from God. Hannah promises to dedicate her child (before he’s even born) to the Lord, just like with Mary and Elizabeth’s sons (Jesus and John).

Hebrews 3:1-6 = Christ is faithful over God’s house as a Son and heir. Again, his incarnation brings about a new layer of relationship with his people that confirms his greatness (even above Moses) as well as his faithfulness and effectiveness.

The Main Event

Luke 1:39-56 = This is the holiday’s commemoration. Here we read of the Virgin Mary visiting her relative Elizabeth, both pregnant, and the pre-natal John leaps for joy at the presence of the pre-natal Christ! Elizabeth blesses Mary for it, and Mary delivers her Magnificat, that great song (or canticle) of praise that serves as part of the Church’s daily prayers to this day.

Zephaniah 3:14-18 = Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion, the prophet writes, in anticipation of Mary’s words in the approaching Gospel. The prophet’s words of restoration and hope also set the stage for what Mary herself proclaimed.

Psalm 113 = He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children, this Psalm proclaims among the various blessings of our benevolent Lord. With the memory of the story Hannah echoing in our minds from earlier, this psalm is thus a popular choice for holidays that have to do with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Colossians 3:12-17 = Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as he once did in Mary, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs such as hers as well.

The Wrap-Up

Zechariah 2:10-13 = Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for God will dwell in your midst! Mary is the Daughter of Zion par excellance, and indeed she delivered quite the song in response to God dwelling within her. We all are now admonished to keep our flesh silent in worshipful adoration before the arising of Christ from his holy dwelling of the womb of Mary.

John 3:25-30 = Years later, John made this great statement about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John the Baptizer never ceased jumping for joy at the presence of his Savior, and his final recorded command is for us to join him in following Christ. May it ever be so.

Almighty God, by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with the Blessed Virgin Mary and greeted her as the mother of the Lord: Look with favor on your lowly servants, that, with Mary, we may magnify your holy Name and rejoice to acclaim her Son as our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.