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Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
Mary set out in those days
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,
“Most 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.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Our parish vision statement begins with the words, “All generations journeying together.”
So much of that inspiration comes from today’s Gospel, when Mary and Elizabeth embrace. Together, these expectant mothers represent “all generations.”
Elizabeth, a barren, elderly woman married for many years. Mary, an unwed teenager. And their unborn children, John and Jesus, representing their hope for the future.
Though Mary and Elizabeth’s age and life experiences are different, they find in each other things they couldn’t have on their own: Community. Affirmation. Friendship. Belonging. Understanding.
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That’s what we seek to offer here, as well.
At St. Pius X, we journey with the elderly; with married couples; with expectant mothers; with teenagers; with children; with the unborn; with those joining online; with anyone seeking the love and support of a community.
Though we are of different ages and life experiences, we can find in one another what Mary found with Elizabeth.
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Our challenge is to constantly expand our embrace, to set out in haste, inviting new members into the fold.
Everyone needs the support of a community.
So, why not journey with us, either here or even from afar?
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Image credits: (1) The Visitation, National Catholic Register (2) Creator Spiritus, James Janknegt (3) GROW Devotional Series, Amazon