[ Today's Readings ]
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
And today we, with Elizabeth, celebrate Mary who brings him to us.
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And 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.
Mary might seem to have better things to do than come to us. Being the mother of God might seem like all she can handle. After all, when Gabriel shows up to explain the situation she is afraid just like anyone else would. Perhaps after Gabriel comforts her she can manage the situation. But is there still enough room left in her heart for us? She says, "May it be done to me according to your word." But how can she have any room in her heart for anything else? And yet she does. In fact, it is almost as though she is more available than ever, more completely free to love as she is meant to love.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
The angel is still there and Mary is practically already leaving to help her relative.
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
And she hasn't stopped coming to visit those in need. From Lourdes, to Fatima, to Guadalupe, which we celebrate this morning, she seeks out her children in need. She wants us to know that "the LORD of hosts has sent me to you" so that many nations can join themselves to the LORD. She herself is the holy dwelling of the LORD in which he stirs. She makes him present to us. So let us come before her in silence so that we might recognize the presence she brings to us, just as she brought that presence to Elizabeth, just as she brought it to Juan Diego.
It is for this reason that she is the highest honor of our race. Her deed of hope will never be forgotten because she continually makes present the fruit of that deed in history. Let us celebrate her this morning. Let us welcome her as she comes to us. Let us leap for joy at the presence of the LORD which she brings to us.
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