The Visitation

I didn't have the opportunity to mention it, but yesterday was the holy day known as the Visitation. As one may see from reading the scripture passage linked here, it was the moment of meeting between Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary, soon to be, in the traditional language of the church, the "bearer of God."

The reason for the significance of this moment is that it marks the ending of the old covenant and the beginning of the new. Interestingly, it is not the birth of Jesus, nor his baptism by John, nor the cross, nor the resurrection that marks this beginning, but the simple and faithful obedience of Mary.

Hence, obedience to God has always been the foundation for all Christian expression and delight.