Lessons from the Visitation

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          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.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com