With Mary, let us set out quickly

Today is Saturday, the day of the joyful mysteries. Let us meditate on the second joyful mystery, the Visitation, whose fruit is fraternal charity:

Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth: "And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and is now in her sixth month, she who was called barren." (Lk 1:36) Elizabeth is to become the mother of Saint John the Baptist. Mary stays at her house to help  her for three months.

Even though Mary has many unanswered questions in her mind, she sets out quickly and goes to serve Elizabeth, her elderly cousin, who lives 110 km (70 miles) from Nazareth. Thus, for three months, she assists Elizabeth by making the fire, drawing water from the well, and spinning the swaddling clothes. She learns how to get ready for a newborn baby, how to give birth to it, and how to feed it.

If Mary didn't have so much faith in God, and lived in our times, she might have said: "Why can't I stay here and celebrate with my friends this unique news, foretold many centuries ago (500 years) by the prophets?  Why not postpone this trip to Elizabeth's house until later?  Once there, why not delegate these different tasks to other people?"

Instead, with the humble eyes of faith, hope and love, we are able to say:

"Jesus, I accept your plan for me; I trust you now and I want to learn from Mary with all my heart. She will form me. I will let her instruct me without setting conditions, even if I don't understand everything. Jesus and Mary, I won't wait to act. I will listen to what my heart tells me and act. The lesson I learned here is to practice Christian charity by reaching out to loved ones who can use my help. Jesus and Mary, I accept to learn from you and therefore I will immediately set to work. With Mary I will learn to pray my rosary better."

Meditation written by Regis and Nicole Burrus