Today is the Feast of the Visitation!
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 leapt 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!
Celebrate the day by making something fun to drink while you are reading Luke 1:39-56. We made delicious and refreshing strawberry tea!
Strawberry Tea
Slice 2 cups of strawberry. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of sugar. Stir. Allow to sit while making the tea.
Boil 4 cups of water. Add five black tea bags and allow to steep for ten minutes. 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 the strawberries. Stir.