A teen-aged Mary traveled in haste from Nazareth, 70-80 miles, to visit Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth who shared her wisdom and guidance with young Mary, who was just conceived a child by the Holy Spirit. Often women, with child for the first time, seek out and listen to the voice of experience, and are comforted by that voice.
This is quite a different twist from what we usually think of as Mary, coming in haste to an elderly cousin, to be with her and possibly help with chores while Elizabeth is great with child.
In this Gospel scene, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit emanating from the holy child in Mary’s womb and she feels the child in her own womb leap for joy at the approach of the Lord living in Mary.
This time after the Angel’s Annunciation fills Mary with joy and concern. No woman has ever borne such gladness in her. Nor has any woman ever had to keep such a secret in silence. For how could she share this event in a manner that a listener would believe her? Not even Joseph, He to whom she was espoused for life, not even he understood until an Angel explained the meaning to him in a dream and reassured him that this was the gift and work of God’s grace.
Here begins the serious part of Mary’s obedience. For honor or dishonor, for life and death, she is in God's hands. She leaves her home, and crosses the mountains to Elizabeth, that motherly woman to whom she was connected by ties of affection and trust. She, who was herself often afflicted, would believe Mary. And she accepts Mary, for the Spirit who works the mystery in Mary also fills Elizabeth, so that she knows the truth before Mary says a word: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” The whole mystery is filled with the unspeakable intimacy in which Mary carries the life of the God-man living within her.
In every Christian life there is a sacred, silent realm in which dwells the Christ---a realm in which we are more profoundly our truest self. There, as a small seed, He works and grows, takes possession of our being, draws our strength toward himself, penetrates our thoughts and desires, sways our wills and our entire being, so that the word of the Apostle comes true: “It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.”
Oh Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants. Fill us with love for you and one another; let your joy, love and peace reign in our family homes and hearts this holy week. Amen.
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Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
