Welcoming Mary and Jesus
When the pregnant St. Elizabeth greeted St. Mary at her home upon the latter’s arrival, which came as a surprise after a long journey for the newly pregnant Mary, the two engaged in an exchange of love and praise. As we learn from the text, this exchange, both in terms of Mary’s motivation to undertake the travel and effort and Elizabeth’s response to her visit was inspired by the Holy Spirit. We also see that from the outset, Elizabeth focuses not on whether or not she is worthy of the visit from Mary and the unborn Lord Jesus in her womb but rather on the greatness of Mary. Moreover, Elizabeth is not only excited for herself but for her child as well, who is blessed by the presence of Mary and Jesus.
To reflect more deeply on this text, we might consider:
- What are some of the qualities of a saint that Elizabeth displays through this interaction?
- Are we as happy as Elizabeth to know that Mary and Jesus care for us and wish to assist us in our times of difficulty? What can we learn from this interaction that may increase our own appreciation of their love and presence in our lives?
Reflection by Aaron Keller
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