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.”
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: Community. Affirmation. Friendship. Belonging. Understanding.
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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?
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Image credits: (1) Nauvoo Mercantile, Mary Jane Williams (2) Joanna Seiburt (3) St. Pius X
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Some have narrowed the spiritual life down to three general movements: surprise, consolation, and desolation.
Mary experiences all three of them in today’s Gospel.
“Surprise” represents those unexpected moments in our lives when we see God acting – a new door opens; we get accepted into our dream college; we receive a promotion at work; we hear the call to priesthood, to marriage; or a prayer is answered.
In Mary’s case, the angel Gabriel appears to her, telling her that she shall bear the Son of God in her womb. Like us at times, she’s “surprised.” A new door has opened; her future has changed.
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When we’re “surprised” by God’s intervention, often he gives us his “consolation” – a feeling of deep peace and acceptance. We see this with Mary when she says, “May it be done unto me according to your word.”
Though she’s humbled by her future, she accepts it willingly and peacefully.
That feeling of peace lasts for an indefinite period of time – days, weeks, even years.
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But after the consolation leaves, often desolation follows. Desolation is the feeling of God’s absence. It’s what Jesus felt while nailed to the Cross as he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Mary must’ve felt some desolation, too, after the angel Gabriel parted from her.
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So, what’s my own spiritual life like? Am I experiencing a moment of surprise? Is God doing something new, something unexpected? Am I experiencing consolation? Or am I feeling some desolation?
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In spite of the spiritual roller coaster she was on, Mary persevered.
So can we.
The key, in her words, is saying, “May it be done unto me according to your word.”
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
