Mary and Elizabeth, great women
Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. (Luke 1:45)
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ (Luke 1:39-45)
The virgin Mary was already pregnant with Jesus, when instead of thinking only about herself, she set off to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth to help her during the last three months of her pregnancy. At the moment of the meeting between the two women, Elizabeth by inspiration understand the roots of the blessedness of the virgin Mary: she believed in the words of the Lord. John, Elizabeth’s son, will become the one who prepares the way for Jesus. Do you trust the Word of God as both Mary and Elizabeth did? Or do you listen to it half heartedly, believing that it has nothing to do with your life, without trying to apply it to the concrete situations in which you find yourself?
