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Gospel: Luke 1:39 – 45
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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A few weeks ago, I baptized my nephew, Michael Judson. He’s my brother’s third child, making me a very proud uncle once again.
My two older nieces, Victoria and Amelia, were delighted to meet their baby brother after nine long months of staring at their mother’s belly, asking, “Mommy, when is baby Michael coming?”
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Pregnancy is, perhaps, among the most intimate of human experiences. I can imagine an expectant mother rubbing her belly, feeling her child forming slowly, silently beneath her heart. Perhaps there’s an occasional kick, reminding her of her baby’s growing presence within.
It’s a type of bond that only mothers share, including the expectant mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, in today’s Gospel.
Interestingly, this is the only story in the Gospels between two women….and they’re both pregnant.
Mary, a poor, unwed, teenage mother-to-be, and Elizabeth, a barren, elderly woman, who never expected to conceive. Two stories of grace; two stories of God making the impossible – possible; two stories of what happens when God acts in someone’s life.
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While each pregnancy will be a blessing, neither Mary nor Elizabeth saw this coming. In fact, the Gospel tells us that Mary was “afraid” when the angel Gabriel first appeared. He announces this “good news” that Mary will bear the Son of God in her womb.
But after she accepts the Lord’s will, Gabriel disappears, leaving Mary alone. What is she to do? How will she tell Joseph? Will he leave her a single mother? Will this child cost her everything?
Mary needs comfort. She needs an open ear, a warm embrace, which is why she travels 80 miles to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who’s also miraculously conceived.
Upon her arrival, Mary finds in Elizabeth’s embrace things she couldn’t find on her own: Community. Affirmation. Friendship. Belonging. Understanding.
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Can we see something of our own parish experience in that embrace?
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The first pillar of our mission at St. Pius X is to, “Build Community.” Here we seek to offer the same things Mary found in Elizabeth’s embrace: Community. Affirmation. Friendship. Belonging. Understanding.
When Mary visited Elizabeth, the veil of isolation was removed. They found support in one another, as they began seeing their lives in the context of a much larger story. God was doing something BIG and they were each a part of it.
Part of the reason why we gather each Sunday is to feel that same sense of connectedness that Mary found with Elizabeth. God is doing something BIG here – he’s renewing the life our parish – and we’re each a part of it.
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But, where’s the invitation this week? What is the Gospel inviting us to do?
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Perhaps we’re being invited to act like Mary – to seek others out. Think of how many people there are around us awaiting the opportunity to experience a sense of community and belonging.
Our mission is to bring them here, to welcome them, to offer them support. As our vision statement reads, we are, “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”
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Who can I invite to join us? Who can I ask to, “come and see”?
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Pregnancy is, perhaps, among the most intimate of human experiences. It’s something only expectant mothers feel.
But the support and affirmation found between Mary and Elizabeth is something that everyone can feel – and extend – to their neighbor.
As we continue growing as a parish, may we set out in haste, welcoming everyone with that same embrace.
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(1) The Visitation, James Jankgnet (2) The Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, Jen Norton Art Studio (3) St. Pius X, High Tea at High Noon