Knowing the time of the "visitation of grace" is not specific to a point in time, but it is a realization of the mercies and generosities of God's love in one's life. For many, this genuine experience becomes a turning point in one's life. Judas Iscariot had this opportunity to experience the grace of God early on in his service, but preferring his own greed over the grace of God, he rejected his time of visitation. The thief on the right fully experienced the visitation of grace in the last moments of his life in the presence of Christ who hung on the cross beside him.
We do not deserve God's grace, but He generously pours His grace upon us. When we live a life of repentance, pray, read the Holy Scripture and other spiritual books, and serve others, we are in the presence of God, and thus, in the visitation of grace. However, many people only experience the visitation of grace in a kind of "epiphany" when they are at the crossroads of tumultuous times, and being overwhelmed with much worry, open the eyes of their hearts and egos, and can then encounter Christ and the visitation of grace extended to them. No one is excluded, unless they so desire. If they repent of their lives of sin, abide in Him, their visitation of grace remains with them.
"And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (Luke 1:16-18).
The Samaritan woman, the woman bleeding for twelve years, Zacchaeus the tax collector, Mary Magdalene, each of the disciples, St. Paul the apostle, and numerous others, including ourselves have been visited by Christ's grace and remain in His visitation of grace through His many mercies and compassion and redemption. Christ's grace is also experienced through each of his Holy Sacraments. Each one has a personal call from Christ who stands at the door and knocks. It is when we open the door that we can fully and abundantly enjoy and bask in His grace. Each day and every experience produces opportunities for the visitation of grace, but it is always there.
"Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'"(Luke 19:41-44).
