For me, one of the greatest miracles is seeing a woman carrying another life within her. Mary is with a child. Jesus is growing in her womb. With her Baby, she goes to visit her old cousin, Elizabeth. Something struck me as I meditated on the Gospel. Mary – a human being like us – must have been pondering this whole thing: a child? By the Holy Spirit? No marriage yet! She might be stoned to death! What does the future hold for me? What is going on in my life? She believed….
Elizabeth’s words were surely a blessing to her. Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit utters these words: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” There is always a blessing when we believe.
“And why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Elizabeth calls Mary ‘Mother’ She affirms Mary!
Though Baby Jesus is already in her womb but not kicking yet, no sign that He is there…. yet She believed…..
Life can be like that, too. Sometimes there can be something beautiful growing amidst uncertainty, pain, suffering. We may not see it right away. Faith helps us to keep going – knowing that there can be grace in any situation. Even when I don’t feel it or see it or know it, God is working….. for our good!
Every life is like pregnancy: something is growing, maturing, developing, becoming. We must never give up on life.
Mary did not go with many presents, maybe she didn’t have any but she gave Elizabeth the greatest present – JESUS. May the presence of Jesus in our hearts this Christmas be the gift we can give to everybody we meet. Because Jesus lives in us: our smile becomes the smile of Jesus, our words become a blessing.
Pregnancy – Wonder, Miracle…. we look to Christmas when a Child is born!
Happy Sunday!
Your brother, ~Fr. Obi