Today is the feast of the Visitation!
It is the day that the church celebrates the visit of Mary with her cousin Elizabeth.
In the gospel of Luke, we are told that Mary, early in her pregnancy, hurried to the home of her cousin, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth, who was also pregnant, heard the voice of Mary, her baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth exclaimed to Mary,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
And then Mary also filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed,
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
It is such a beautiful passage!
Ways to Celebrate
Read Luke 1:39-56.
Why do you think Mary went to Elizabeth?
What happened to the baby in Elizabeth's womb when it heard Mary's voice?
Why do you think the baby did that?
What happened to Elizabeth and Mary after they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
Would you like to be filled with the Holy Spirit, too?
Pray: God, you are a good father and you love to give your children gifts. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. We pray that your Holy Spirit would fill us now. Amen.
Celebrate the day by making something fun to drink. We made delicious and refreshing strawberry tea!
Invite someone over for a visit.
Strawberry Tea
Ingredients
2 cups strawberries, sliced
1/3 + 1/2 cup sugar, divided
10 cups of water, divided
5 black tea bags
Slice the strawberries. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of sugar. Stir. Allow to sit while making the tea.
Boil the water. Add the black tea bags and allow to steep for ten minutes. Press and remove the tea bags. Combine tea and 6 cups of water in a pitcher. Add 1/2 cup of sugar. Stir.
Fill glasses with ice, pour in tea, and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of strawberries to each glass. Stir.