Project BLACK MAMBA: Eastertide

'Tis the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Our Lady-link ūna, Our Lady-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

This day remembers when Mary, bearing the Lord Jesus in her womb, visited her cousin (St.) Elizabeth (5 November) who was carrying (St.) John the Baptist (24 June, 29 August). Upon hearing Mary's voice Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out, "Most blessed are you among women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment of the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled" (Luke, 1:42-45).

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Robert Thorpe, Priest & Martyr (circa 1560-1591), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of the Visitation
The Book of Zephaniah, chapter three, verses fourteen thru eighteen(a);
or, the Letter to the Romans, chapter twelve, verses nine thru sixteen;
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twelve, verses two, three, & four(b,c,d); five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses thirty-nine thru fifty-six.

Commentary: Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel recounts the story of Mary’s visitation to her cousin, Elizabeth. Upon hearing the message of Gabriel concerning her own pregnancy and that of her cousin, Mary “proceeded in haste into the hill country of Judah” to see Elizabeth. Why did she go with such speed and purpose? Because she had found her mission, her role in the Theo-drama.

The Theo-drama is the great story being told by God, the great play we all find ourselves in. What makes life thrilling is to discover your role in it. This is precisely what has happened to Mary. She has found her role—indeed a climactic role—in the Theo-drama, and she wants to conspire with Elizabeth, who has also discovered her role in the same drama.

Mary recapitulates the story of Israel, the story of redemption. We can, as it were, read the whole Old Testament in her: “He has shown the strength of his arm; he has scattered the proud in their conceit; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.”

Bible Study
The Book of Genesis, chapter six, verses five thru twenty-two;
The Book of Genesis, chapter seven (verses one thru twenty-four);
The Book of Genesis, chapter eight (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Genesis, chapter nine (verses one thru twenty-nine);
The Book of Genesis, chapter ten (verses one thru thirty-two);
The Book of Genesis, chapter eleven (verses one thru thirty-two);

Commentary: Actually read last night, during an hour of Eucharistic adoration, long after yesterday's BLACK MAMBA post had been published.

Warning of the Flood (6:5-13), Preparation for the Flood (6:14-7:5), the Great Flood (7:6-8:22), Covenant with Noah (9:1-17), Noah & His Sons (9:18-29), Table of the Nations (10:1-32), the Tower of Babel (11:1-9), the Line from Shem to Abraham (11:10-26), & II. The Patriarch Abraham: Terah (11:27-32).