The Courage to Get Up and Go

Today we have the celebration of the Feast of the Visitation on the Church calendar combined with the American celebration of Memorial Day. I think we often overlook how difficult a journey it was for Mary to travel from Nazareth all the way to Jerusalem and on the the “hill country” town of Ein Karem, the home of Elizabeth. We see Mary respond so easily. She goes “with haste” even. She is a woman of virtue who sees a need  and just goes. On this Memorial Day, the story of the visitation reminds me of this same kind of spirit in those who have given their lives in service of our country. When there was an urgent need, people in trouble, the world threatened, how many American soldiers volunteered and went “with haste” to do their duty, many giving their lives in this service. We are grateful today for this spirit of sacrifice that has bought us the gift of freedom. May each of us have this spirit as we look out for our brothers and sisters in need and go “with haste” to help them.