Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country, to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.
Mary has just received the message of the angel, and the Word has become flesh in her womb. But she did not stay at home. She did not choose to quietly enjoy the mystery. She immediately set out to visit, and serve, her elderly cousin.
When Mary entered the house, she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary, but the infant John recognized the presence of the infant Jesus. There is a profound mystery here for our reflection. How was it that two unborn children were aware of each other’s presence? And the Baby Jesus (still an embryo) was communicating grace to his cousin (who was around six months gestation).
Sacred Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what Mary did during those three months in Elizabeth’s house, but we can use our imagination. Mary was a young girl of around fourteen or fifteen, and she would have been strong and energetic, even though in early pregnancy. Elizabeth was an older woman, who had been thought to be sterile, who was in her third trimester. She probably didn’t have a lot of energy. We can easily imagine Mary cooking, cleaning, sewing baby clothes, helping prepare the house for the new baby. Whatever needed to be done, we can see Mary doing it to help her cousin.
Do we have people in our own lives who need a hand? Is there a relative or friend, a neighbor or parishioner, who needs some help around the house? Or needs help with their new baby? It is a great work of charity to help those who need assistance. Love your neighbor as yourself cannot be a theory. We have to find ways to make it a concrete reality. How is the Lord calling me to live out the mystery of the Visitation in my own life?
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