We can learn so much from our Lady in this joyful encounter.
First, upon hearing that her elderly cousin had conceived in her old age, how did Mary respond? Mary left “in haste” to help. Even though Mary just had a life altering experience, an Archangel had appeared to her—giving her a task no human had ever been tasked with before, Mary left the comfort of her home in Nazareth, in haste. If anyone ever had an excuse to stay home, it was her. But she doesn’t remain isolated in anxious worrying. She detected a need, and she acted without fearful hesitation.
Simple yet profound lesson number one: when we detect a need, we are to act in haste. Whether it’s a change we need to make in our own life, or if we hear how a neighbor needs our help, we are to act in haste. We don’t put off for tomorrow, what should be done today.
Secondly, think of what the journey from Nazareth to Judea meant for Mary. Elizabeth and Zechariah weren’t just a drive across town. They lived in the hill country of Judea—about 60 miles from Nazareth—through bandit infested hill country. A difficult journey for anyone, especially for a teenage mother traveling by herself.
Mary teaches us to look beyond our own problems and worries to the needs of others. Look beyond the difficult road ahead to that opportunity for charity. Charity isn’t always easy, but charity mustn’t stop just because I have my own problems.
Thirdly, notice how Mary brings incredible joy to Elizabeth and even the infant in Elizabeth’s womb. How? Because she bore the life of Jesus inside her. So soon after the annunciation, Mary likely showed no visible sign of pregnancy, yet mysteriously Elizabeth detected the Christ child within her. “How is it that the mother my Lord comes to me?”
Mary shows us here the vocation of every Christian, to cultivate such faith, hope, and love that others can detect the life of God inside of us. Daily prayer, daily self-sacrificing charity, daily meditation, the renunciation of sin and cultivation of the virtues: these things cause our hearts to catch fire with love and joy and cause us to radiate the life of God so that God can be detected by others.
“A joyful heart, Mother Theresa explained, “is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love for God and for neighbor.” And that joy is a net for which to catch souls. There are souls out there, neighbors, family members, people who have left the Church, that can only be brought to God by witnessing our joy. So there’s our third and final lesson from our Lady: we are to do everything in our power to cultivate the life of God in us that we become nets to catch souls for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.
That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, and for the safety and welfare of all pregnant mothers, and that all mothers and fathers will know the assistance of the Christian Church in nurturing and raising their children.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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