May 31 2021

The Visitation, by Jerónimo Ezquerra, 1737

First reading Zephaniah 3:14-18

The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,

Israel, shout aloud!

Rejoice, exult with all your heart,

daughter of Jerusalem!

The Lord has repealed your sentence;

he has driven your enemies away.

The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;

you have no more evil to fear.

When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:

Zion, have no fear,

do not let your hands fall limp.

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a victorious warrior.

He will exult with joy over you,

he will renew you by his love;

he will dance with shouts of joy for you

as on a day of festival.

Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12

The rejoicing of a redeemed people

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Truly, God is my salvation,

I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,

he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation.

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!

Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples!

Declare the greatness of his name.

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Sing a psalm to the Lord

for he has done glorious deeds;

make them known to all the earth!

People of Zion, sing and shout for joy,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Gospel Luke 1:39-56

The Almighty has done great things for me

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

and my spirit exults in God my saviour;

because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,

for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name,

and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

He has shown the power of his arm,

he has routed the proud of heart.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy

– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –

of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

_____________________________

31st May 2021 Monday – The Visitation of Mary.

Reflection
Zephaniah 3:14-18, Luke 1:39-56

“The sign of being a Christian: serving others”
“Serving others is a Christian sign. Whoever doesn’t live to serve other people, doesn’t serve to live. Serving others and being full of joy is the attitude that I would like to underline today. There is joy and also service towards others.” (Pope Francis, 31st May 2016)

As we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation, let us reflect on Mary as she set out quickly to make the journey of love and service to Elizabeth. She did not stay at her house and remained in her comfort zone. What about us? Are we in a hurry to help others? Are we quick to focus on the needs of others and place ourselves at their service? Often, we focus on ourselves and our needs. Let Mary challenge us to go out of our way for others and find joy in serving others, especially those who cannot pay us back. As we serve others, may we find ourselves growing closer to God.

Question for reflection:
How can I learn from Mary to be quick to go out of my comfort zone in order to serve?

Renungan ( Versi BM)

Kunjungan Maria.

Zefanya 3:14-18, Lukas 1:39-56

“Tanda menjadi Kristian: melayani sesama”
“Melayani sesama ada tanda Kristian. Sesiapa tidak hidup untuk melayani orang lain, tidak melayani untuk hidup. Melayani sesama dan memiliki sukacita adalah sikap yang ingin saya tekankan hari ini. Ada sukacita dan juga pelayanan terhadap orang lain.” (Pope Francis, 31st May 2016)

Ketika kita merayakan Pesta Maria Mengunjungi Elisabet, marilah merenungkan Maria pada saat ia bertindak dengan cepat melakukan perjalanan kasih dan pelayanan untuk membantu Elisabet. Maria tidak tinggal di rumahnya dan tidak hanya berada di tempat selesanya. Bagaimana dengan kita? Adakah kita bergegas untuk membantu orang lain? Adakah kita peka akan keperluan orang lain dan melayani mereka? Seringkali kita terlalu bertumpu hanya kepada diri dan keperluan sendiri. Biarkan Maria mencabar kita untuk keluar membantu orang lain dan menemukan sukacita ketika melayani orang lain, terutama mereka yang tidak dapat membalasnya. Semoga pada ketika kita melayani orang lain, kita semakin mendekat pada Tuhan.

Soalan renungan:
Bagaimana saya dapat belajar dari Maria untuk keluar dari zon selesa agar dapat melayani?

(Versi Murut)

31 Mei 2021, Orou Kasaa’ Minggu’ Kabalu’, i Maria minongoi pagilong ri Ilisabit

Jipanya 3:14-18; Lukas 1:39-56

Tatandu’ masauk ra Kristian: mangandoi ra gino po ngai’
“Mangandoi ra ulun bokon iono tatandu’ ru ulun Kristian. Osoi kalo maayag ra mangandoi ra ulun bokon, kalo mangandoi koson kaayagan. Mangandoi ra bokon am maansukan tojojo iono paliso kasagaan kuno, ondo’ karaan ra kasaa’ ra orou raiti’. Mokoondo’ maansukan am niayuk mangandoi ra ulun bokon.” (Pope Francis, 31 Mei 2016)
Paat ra itakau mangiantak ra Pesta i Maria minongoi pagilong ri Ilisabit, ibok pampaguang takau ri Maria nagindibok timinampos ra mugar ra pangkiralanan ru togom am mangandoi ri Ilisabit. Kalo minayan io ra baloi nano am riminondon ra intok kasagain. Ati kulaan ritakau? Magindibok takau kia mongoi pangindangan ra ulun bokon? Mangindibok takau kia karaan gogot ru ulun bokon am mangandoi takau risilo? Masalok takau karaan ra itakau galama’ am gogot takau. Polosoon i Maria mangulau ritakau mugar mongoi ra ulun bokon am makatuum ra maansukan mangandoi ra ulun bokon, mulu’ poyo risilo ondo’ kalo makapambalos ritakau. Paat ra itakau mangandoi ra ulun bokon, gama’ itakau galama’ makalampit ri Aki Kapuuno’.

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Ati kulaan aku makaigila’ intor ri Maria koson mingkual intor ra intok kasagain maa’ raginio makapangandoi?

(Versi Iban)

31-05-2021 Hari Isnin Penemuai Maria.

Renungan
Zefaniah 3:14-18; Luke 1:39-56

“Tanda Orang Kristen: Mela orang bukai.”
“Mela orang bukai nya tanda orang Kristen. Barang sapa diau enggau enda mela orang bukai, enda patut bisi. Mela orang bukai sereta penuh enggau pengaga ati patut nyadi dalam pengidup ti deka ditekan aku saritu. Bisi pengaga ati sereta deka mela orang bukai.” (Pope Francis, 31 May 2016)

Dalam kitai ngerami gawai Penemuai Maria, aram kitai belematika Maria lebuh iya beguai-guai bejalai ngagai Elizabeth enggau ati rindu sereta deka mela orang bukai. Iya enda mengkang ba rumah iya ngati ka diri. Kati baka kitai deh? Bisi kitai beguai-guai deka meri tulong ka orang bukai? Bisi kitai beguai deka nulong nemu utai dipeguna orang bukai? Suah kitai milih fokus enggau diri empu sereta barang dipeguna kitai diri empu. Awak ka Maria nyaup kitai awak ulih bejalai ngenatai ka diri sereta tetemu ka pengaga ati mela orang mayuh kelebih agi sida ti nadai daya meri pulai ka kitai. Lebuh kitai mela orang bukai,awak kitai ngasai diri mansang semak enggau Allah Taala.

Kati aku ulih belajar ari Maria awak beguai-guai pansut ari palan pengelantang aku awak ulih mela orang bukai?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.