Mary is the model of sincere love. She comes to us to teach us how to love.
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
Mary is not too busy too help. She is not too self-involved to be attentive to the needs of others. Even though she certainly has enough going on in her own life that doesn't prevent her from going to help Elizabeth in her own need. We can be so inward in our spirituality that we forget how we can be a blessing to others. Mary, on the other hand, brings the blessings she has been given to bless others.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Mary is not so selfless that she doesn't remember the unique ways God has blessed her specifically. Because she remembers she is able to share them with Elizabeth. She proclaims them in a song of praise which the Church sings to this day.
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
Together Mary and Elizabeth love sincerely with mutual affection and cling to the good blessings from the LORD. They try to anticipate one another in showing honor. The are fervent in spirit, serving the LORD, and rejoicing in hope. This love has its source in God. Because they know who they are in him they can endure even in affliction. We can be so haughty and think ourselves so wise that we forget to trust God. We forget to help others when they need us. Mary and Elizabeth remember to trust God by persevering in prayer. They rejoice together in a way that only the LORD can make possible, a way that selfish people cannot experience.
The Visitation is about the difference Jesus makes. It calls us both to bring him to situations in which we find ourselves and to welcome him when we see him being brought to us. This keeps us humble. This enables us to truly rejoice.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
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