The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I went on a silent retreat to prepare spiritually for the gift of motherhood. I carried in me so much anticipation and hope, longing to connect with Our Lady in a new way as a mother. One night during Eucharistic Adoration, I paged through my Bible and discovered a prayer card of the Madonna and Child. I admired how she held Jesus so tenderly to her face. I glanced at my handout with the assigned scripture passage – the Visitation.
Just as I read the words, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb” I felt my son suddenly kick! The surprise and joy I experienced gave me a holy imagination of this real event 2,000 years ago. My heart echoed these words, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” I sensed the humility of Saint Elizabeth and the excitement of Saint John the Baptist upon encountering the Messiah, the one for whom he would prepare the way. “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” Imagine the fullness of joy and sacredness of the moment shared by Mary and Elizabeth.
Sacred Scripture is the Word of God - living and active. I experienced this in a very tangible way on that retreat. The Lord is always drawing us to Himself, and He reveals Himself to us when we are aware and receptive. He desires true intimacy with us, and meditation upon the Gospels awakens our hearts to see ourselves in the men and women God chose to carry out His plan. The Lord invites each of us to bring His Son to others like Mary brought the Word-made-flesh to Elizabeth. May we leap for joy when we hear His Word and echo her life-changing “yes” to God.
Lord Jesus, we ask for the grace to know real intimacy with You and Your mother this final week of Advent. Thank you for your creative plan for salvation, and choosing to take on our humanity so we may receive you fully. Mother of the Redeemer, show us how to receive your Son with joy and wonder. Amen.
Olivia Jordan is a native Floridian. She is blessed to create a home for her family and contribute to Every Sacred Sunday as a Customer Service Representative. She is a student at the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and currently completing the 39th annotated version of the Spiritual Exercises. Her favorites include pink peonies, The Chosen, and reading aloud to her boys.