Luke’s Gospel this Sunday tells us that, when Mary sets out in haste to visit her pregnant cousin
Elizabeth, she does so out of love, out of concern for a close friend. She is, perhaps, moved by the experience of
the child within her, Jesus, moved by
that perfect love that brings her to her relative in her time of need. And Elizabeth’s reaction to Mary’s presence
is no less stunning: upon seeing her
cousin, the infant in [Elizabeth’s] womb
leaped for joy. Mark it well: filled
with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth recognizes the presence of God in her
midst, and that experience causes a spontaneous reaction of joy.
She is aware of God at work in Mary, and even at God at work in herself,
as God makes his presence felt – a very real presence, not abstract, not a
notion, or a word, but a reality incarnate in her midst. It is the reality of grace, God-with-us, a
grace that brings peace.
As this Sunday’s first reading, from the Book of Micah,
suggests, God’s concern is for all of creation, and when God sends a Savior, his greatness shall reach to the ends of the
earth. It is up to us to open
ourselves to the peace that is Jesus,
so that, when God makes his presence felt in our midst, we, too, might leap for joy, ready to do God’s will (Hebrews).
This reflection is based on notes from Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
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