Take Christ With You

Just days before Christmas, we are asked to reflect on the meeting between the Blessed Mother and her older cousin, Elizabeth.  Scripture tells us that Mary went in haste to Judah to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

The backstory behind Elizabeth and Mary’s meeting starts with Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah. Since Zechariah was from a priestly family, one of his duties was to burn incense in the sanctuary. The angel Gabriel appeared before him while standing alone, administering his duties. He was troubled with the visit, and fear overtook him. The angel told him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.

Zechariah’s faith was not mature, and he questioned the angel’s prophecy because he and his wife were advanced in age and no longer physically able to conceive a child. Gabriel rebuked his doubt, who told him, “But now you will be speechless and unable to talk- until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth is framed by an elderly woman pregnant with her son John the Baptist and a mute husband. Upon arriving, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, announced the arrival of the Messiah by proclaiming, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The following words Elizabeth proclaims are instructional, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Mary already knew, through the angel Gabriel, that she was to conceive Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel’s message to her was so awe-inspiring and life-changing that Mary could have pondered the greatest message ever coming from heaven by being totally immersed in her experience.  But that is not what she chose to do.

She went in haste to assist her elderly relative, who needed her help and company. Hence, she went in haste, or, as some translations say, with great thoughtfulness. Regardless, Mary’s concern at the moment was not her own condition but that of her cousin. In reality, Mary carried Jesus hidden in her womb, and both met Elizabeth’s needs.

Mary, overcome with the love of God to be the Mother of his Son, accepted fully the gift and bestowed that love upon her relative. To be loved and to love is the driving force of all charitable action. In humility and love, Mary responded to the ordinary needs of others. But she was not alone, nor are we when we are open to the needs of others.

There can be no more excellent example of how our spiritual dispositions should be in the waning days of Advent and the upcoming Christmas season. Like Mary, when we go at once when our help is needed, we take Christ with us, invoking the care of his mother.

Jesus and Mary long to reach out to those in need, and we who have been given so much are often unwilling to allow him to do so. But it is through us that he can offer his healing and his peace. He was hidden in Mary when she went so willingly. He will be hidden in us, and because in him we have our being, he will also go with us in acts of charity.

If we learn one thing from Mary, it should be that we bring Christ with us whenever we go out, just as she did when she visited her cousin. Our biggest concern this Christmas season should be our willingness to bring Christ’s peace and healing to those we meet, knowing full well that we do not go alone.