the big serve
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice." —Luke 1:41-42
Mary, having conceived Jesus and become the mother of God (see Lk 1:43), was led by the Holy Spirit to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. Mary came to serve Elizabeth in the last three months of Elizabeth's pregnancy (see Lk 1:56). Mary prophesied that this visit and service would be part of a great work of God leading to a spiritual revolution where rulers would be dethroned and the lowly would be lifted up (Lk 1:52).
We too visit and serve people. Most people spend much of their lives serving their children, who hopefully will serve them in their old age. Nevertheless, we often do not see our visits and service leading to a spiritual revolution. We need to be like Mary. We must visit and serve while being very conscious of the presence of God within us and being led in submission to the Holy Spirit. When our visits, service, and lives are Marian, they will be part of the great spiritual revolution of the Holy Spirit.
On this last day of May, the month of Mary, the Holy Spirit is calling us to be Marian, so that "the Mighty One" will do "great things" for and through us (see Lk 1:49).
Prayer: Father, charge my little actions with power because of my relationship with You.
Promise: "Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord." —Rm 12:11
Praise: Mary's kindness toward her elderly relative helped release the power of the Holy Spirit into the world.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape The Visitation on audio AV 70-3 or video V-70.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, October 9, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 14, 2003