The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth is one of the key stories told regarding the birth of Jesus in the New Testament. Not only does this Gospel story recount how Elizabeth perceives Mary as being the Mother of the Lord, but we also hear Mary sing the Magnificat, a message that contains many of the main values of the Good News that Jesus will proclaim in his ministry here on earth.
In the Visitation of Mary, we see two women, Mary and Elizabeth, visit each other and minister to each other. These two women will soon give birth to two babies, Jesus and John the Baptist, who will change not only the lives of these two women, but their births will change the world. Mary and Elizabeth are bound together in a way that goes way beyond their place and time in Ancient Israel. The Visitation captures a particular moment in time, but it is an event that is universal in meaning, which is why we celebrate this feast day in a special way during our liturgical year.
Just as Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth to be with her and to help her, Mary is with us in our lives in so many different ways. Mary is the Sorrowful Mother who understands the sacrifice and sorrows that we experience in our lives. Mary is our Mother who celebrates our joys, who encourages us on our journey, who helps us get back on track when we stray and when we become apathetic. Mary is the Mother of our Lord who listens to our prayers and presents them to her Son, present our cause to her son.
As we celebrate Mary today and her Visitation with her cousin Elizabeth, we are called to never forget that Mary is always at our side.
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