When I read Sunday’s gospel, an image formed in my mind immediately. It was an image of Mary, as a very young, teenage girl. From her outward appearance, she may have seemed quite ordinary. Simple, young, still a bit naive about the ways of the world. She was probably a bit tired and dusty after her long journey through the country on foot. Was she hungry? Or thirsty? Was Mary traveling with a joyful heart? Or was she perhaps a bit worried about how her cousin Elizabeth would accept her condition?
It would have been natural for Mary to worry how Elizabeth would react to her own pregnancy as an unwed mother. But, Mary doesn’t seem to be afraid or concerned about what Elizabeth would think of her at all.
How often do we worry ourselves sick about things that are beyond our control? Do you ever lie awake at night and worry about the bills, your children, your grades in school, or are you worried that you might lose your job? Maybe you have suffered a significant loss in your life, like the death of a loved one or perhaps a recent divorce and are worried about the future? Or maybe you unexpectedly found out that a new baby is on the way – and you start worrying if you will be a good parent, or if you will be able to provide for them. The fear of the unknown, the fear of the future, can weigh heavily on our minds and cause many sleepless nights whenever a major change is occurring.
We would do well to remember that young people live in the present moment. Mary also lived in the present moment. She didn’t worry too much about the future. She just accepted that if it was God’s will, everything would be ok. (I think most of our fears and worries come from trusting in ourselves more than we trust in God.)
It was a beautiful thing though, at the end of today’s gospel when Elizabeth said,
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Mary believed God and trusted Him completely with her life and the life of her unborn child. Why is it so difficult for us to trust God with our own life sometimes? We often rely too much on our own strength, rather than His.
The gospel today is filled with so much joy, though. I can just picture Elizabeth’s smile and the happiness on her face when she said:
“How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”
It’s almost time to celebrate Christmas, which is supposed to be a time of joy, peace and happiness. Perhaps it is also time to let go of whatever worries, fears, and stress that we may be experiencing, and try to learn to live in the present moment in the coming days.
Life isn’t perfect. People aren’t perfect. No one really knows what the future may bring. But today can be beautiful, if we slow down and just enjoy the love, companionship, and friendship of our family and friends. Maybe we could try to live in the present moment when we are with them, just like Mary did with Elizabeth.
Our hearts will then be filled to the brim, with the things that really matter. And, we will have made room for baby Jesus in our hearts once again.
