Suffering With Joy

Thoughts on the Visitation

July 2, 2010

The Visitation, Vicente Masip (b. ca. 1475, Andilla, d. 1550, Valencia), panel, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Today is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Mother to her cousin Elizabeth.  Mary, newly carrying Jesus in her womb, brought the sanctifying grace of Baptism to St. John the Baptist as he rested in the waters of the womb of Elizabeth. He lept and his mother felt it.  Beyond the obvious pro-life message of this incident recounted by St. Luke (1: 37-47), many other lessons, especially those of trusting in the Lord abound in this ten verse passage.

And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

Mary trusted.  Elizabeth trusted.  Both pointed to Jesus as did St. John the Baptist from the womb to his death.  What God asked of them they did without question and the whole human race was saved.

God has His plans for us, too, and those plans are not only for our own good but for the good of others.  We all have a part in helping others to heaven, no matter how small.  The difficult thing is to do God’s will without second guessing Him.  Mary did not second guess God and neither did Elizabeth.

On Wednesday of this week as I was chopping beans for blanching before freezing and pulling leaves off mint stems, my back was really hurting but the job had to be done.  Standing at the kitchen sink I had a bit of an epiphany.  Learning to trust in God is my big spiritual job right now.   As I thanked God for the goods of the garden I also saw that I had to thank Him for everything else He sends me, including pain and fatigue and anything else disagreeable in my life, as well as the good things. I saw that the spirit of thankfulness reflects belief and trust that He knows what is best for me.

We can’t give what we don’t have.  If we are to be like Mary carrying Christ to Elizabeth, we have to do whatever necessary to imitate her faith and trust, letting Christ grow in us.  If we are to be like Elizabeth who received Christ and His mother, we have to do whatever is necessary to recognize Him in the many hidden ways He comes to us and the many gifts He gives us. These are the little day-by-day acts that constitute doing our part in God’s plan for the salvation of souls.  We don’t need to know the specifics.  We just need to follow faithfully where He leads us growing in His grace.  Someday all will be clear to us and we will be eternally praising Him with joy.

Tags: Blessed Virgin

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