The scripture passage in the first reading is a beautiful love song that begins with a young girl's gentle longing for her lover. Being confined at home behind a wall, windows and lattices, she keeps hearing her lover, who stands outside, and invites her to come out and meet him. "Winter is over and the time for love is here", he says. But she will not go out to meet him although he has come from afar to see her. Instead, she remains in the house. As a result, both the girl and her lover long for a love that cannot be satisfied. Yet, it could be if she is willing to step out and meet her lover.

Unlike the story in the first reading, the one in the Gospel speaks about the meeting of two kindred souls whose lives have been touched mysteriously and miraculously by the hand of God. This special encounter is possible because Mary was willing to step out from her comfort zone and travel far to meet Elizabeth. Elizabeth and the child within her womb are blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit by the visit of the "mother of my Lord". The Lord longs to visit and bless us with his presence. Like the lover in the first reading, he calls us to "come" and to spend time with him daily. What is our response? Are we like the young girl who remains in her house and does not venture forth? Or are we like Mary, who chooses to leave her home and visit Elizabeth?