Advent Companions II
At the Abbey, “Christmas” decorations and celebrations don’t arrive until December 25, giving the sisters the entire season of Advent to wait and pray. Each year, Advent’s liturgy provides us with strong and wise companions for the journey.
Elizabeth
Easily seen as merely a foil for Mary, we encounter Elizabeth in the liturgy as she welcomes Mary with humility:
“Who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
Since we know that Mary is the mother of God, this makes sense to us. However, immersing ourselves into the story gives us a greater appreciation for Elizabeth’s openness.
Elizabeth is actually quite something. She is of the priestly clan, long shamed for barrenness, but now esteemed for her obviously miraculous pregnancy. She is venerable, an elder to be respected.
In this humble greeting, we see even more to admire. Elizabeth was able to recognize what was truly important…Jesus, hidden as he was in the body of her young relative Mary. Let us be open to see the life of God hidden in those we encounter, humbly welcoming, like Elizabeth.