The Visitation is a tender and lovely Feast Day on our liturgical calendar. We can draw so many lessons from Our Lady and Saint Elizabeth, if we listen closely.
The Visit
The young Mary visits her cousin to be of service, since Elizabeth’s delivery date is near. When the two women greet each other the Holy Spirit inspires Elizabeth and her unborn child to feel joy because the Savior of the World has arrived together with His holy mother.
I can imagine the conversations between the two cousins during these days. They were busy with the final preparations for the upcoming birth of John. I can see the young Virgin Mary sweeping and cooking while Elizabeth sat or folded baby clothes. about this and that. Certainly it was not all busyness and both women prayed together and talked about the wonders of God’s actions in their lives.
What does the Virgin teach us?
First, she teaches us that we should be ready to serve others regardless of our schedules. Funny how God moves things around for us or reshuffles our schedules. He simply makes the inconvenient convenient. Once again, He writes straight on a crooked line.
Our Lady shows us that when we help others we bring Christ to them. We show His love for them through the work we perform or simply by our presence.
On the flip side, we need to allow others to serve us in our time of need. When we slip into our independent mode, we deny another person the opportunity to bring Christ to us. We block graces.
May God bless your day with an opportunity to serve another pilgrim on their journey to our heavenly home. And, may the Lord send you a companion in your time of need.
Artwork: Limbourg Brothers, Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. 1412-1416. Illuminated manuscript. Musée Condé, Chantilly, France.