Before brothers James and John, before the apostle Peter or the evangelizer Paul, before the magi or the shepherds heard the news, there were two witnesses to the miracle of a Messiah coming in the flesh. Two women, Mary and Elizabeth, would bear this miracle into the world.
After hearing from the angel Gabriel, Mary traveled hastily to the Judean countryside to be with her cousin Elizabeth, herself midway through a miraculous pregnancy. On greeting Mary, Elizabeth feels the sensation of a child leaping for joy in her womb, and blesses Mary: Blessed are you among women, blessed is the fruit of your womb. Mary responds with the gorgeous, righteous song: My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
I wonder about the three months that followed, which Luke tells us is how long Mary stayed with Elizabeth. What kind of kinship blossomed between these two cousins, one old and one young? What conversations did they have about the unfolding of God’s story— did it start with their aching feet, a flutter in the belly? What did Zechariah (Elizabeth’s husband, mute for the time being) hear from the kitchen—laughter, tears, wonder?
God asked of Mary an unbelievable task, but God also gave Mary a friend to share in the journey. And this too is part of God’s salvation story: that God arrives in relationship, and in our connections with each other. Who is it that has walked with you through a difficult time, or a joyful arrival? Who is it that shares with you now?
Three Holy Days
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the...
