Lessons from the Visitation

THE gospel of the 4th Sunday of Advent this year (Year C) tells us of the many precious lessons we can learn from that beautiful episode of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth soon after she learned that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God and that her aging and barren cousin was already heavy with child in her womb. (cfr. Lk 1,39-45)

In that gospel episode, it is mentioned that Mary went “in haste.” It is an example worth emulating by everyone, for it is clearly what is proper to us. A truly good person, a holy one so close and identified with God, would be quick to serve everybody else, because that is simply the expression of love. Love is always a matter of deeds and service, and not just sweet words and good intentions.

This eagerness to serve would really identify us with Christ who is our “way, truth and life.” He being God became man to save us, the greatest service anyone can do. And all throughout his earthly life, serving was the constant rule that he followed. He was always at the beck and call of anyone who had need of something.

Definitely, to be able to serve, one has to be humble. And that’s what we see in our Lady, and of course, in Christ, first of all. Pride and all its allies would always extinguish any desire to serve others. They only are interested in serving their own selves.

We need to humble ourselves so that we can serve everyone, and not just those whom we like. We have to serve even those whom we don’t like and who may not like us. If we are truly humble, our spirit of service would not make any discrimination among the people. We would serve everyone, whether they deserve to be served or not.

A Christian and Marian spirit of service would neither give rise in us to a certain sense of entitlement and privilege because of whatever claim of authority or superiority we may have over others.

While it’s true that we obviously are entitled to our rights, we should not feel entitled to privileges and favors that are above our rights and needs. If they come and we cannot avoid them, then let’s be thankful.

But let’s be reminded that these privileges, favors and blessings are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve and not to be served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they tend only to spoil and corrupt us.

We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some privileged positions or status in life because we tend to think that we deserve more entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We may even demand them for us.

Remember what Christ said once: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Mt 6,1)

We need to acquire the mentality of a servant which is actually the mentality of Christ himself. Let us readjust our human standards to conform to what is actually proper to us as taught and lived by Christ. We usually look down on the status of servants. This has to change! We should be convinced that by becoming a servant we would be making ourselves like Christ. Let’s say NO to entitlements.