Mary visits Elizabeth - Luke 1:39-45
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
Mary set out with haste to a Judean town in the hill country. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
· What was the weather like as Mary set out?
· How did she travel?
· What was the road like? What made Mary go with haste?
· What was her journey like?
· What was she thinking of as she travelled?
· Imagine the meeting of the two cousins.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. … Why is this happening to me? For as soon as I heard your voice, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
· What kind of relationship did Mary and Elizabeth share?
· Imagine them greeting each other.
· At Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. This was not the ordinary movement of an unborn baby. Both Elizabeth and her child had come into the presence of the unborn Jesus and were profoundly affected by the encounter.
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· · Where do I find God in my life?
· Am I aware of his presence with me always? My daily Examen can help me to see where God is at work in me and in the world around me.
· Elizabeth seems to imply that the lack of speech which Zechariah was still experiencing had something to do with his lack of trust in the angel’s word.
· Do I hear and respond to God’s word spoken to me through prayer, scripture, daily events, inspirations deep within me? Again, the Examen is a useful tool for discerning God’s promptings.
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
I am travelling with Mary as she goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Mary told me that Elizabeth was pregnant and would need help. She asked if I would come with her. Of course, I agreed. I helped her pack for the journey, and saddled up the two donkeys. We are setting out mid-morning on this mild day. As we travel, the road gets steeper and longer. This is no easy journey. Mary seems full of joy and is humming to herself. How good is the Lord through all the earth!
At last we reach our destination and knock on the door of Zechariah’s house. There is a shout from within. Elizabeth, obviously pregnant, rushes to meet Mary and the two embrace. It is so good to see such connection between these two beautiful women.
This is their private time. I unload the donkeys and take them to the back of the house where I find water for them to drink. Then I return to the house. The two mothers-to-be are now sitting down, talking excitedly. I go to the kitchen to get them a drink and some biscuits. I hear a noise and look up to see Zechariah standing in the doorway. He looks distressed, desperately trying to speak. What is wrong with him? He usually has lots to say, sometimes too much. But now he seems only able to make signs. I don’t understand him, so he turns and stomps out of the house.
As I return to the front room, I hear Elizabeth praising Mary for her faith. She says that she has recognised God here among us in Mary. She seems to imply that someone else has not been so open to God’s message. Who could she mean?
Then Elizabeth shares her excitement as the child leaps in her womb as Mary, carrying the unborn Jesus, enters her life.
This is no book learning! This is excitement, connection, enlightenment at its most profound.
And then Mary begins to speak, crying and laughing at the same time…