Paul Writes
"‘The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth’ ..."
Wednesday was the Feast Day of ‘The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth’ which is one of those days in the calendar which inspires me to think deeply about friendship and family. The account of the visit in Luke’s Gospel describes a joy filled meeting and speaks of strong bonds of friendship between the women, women who, as it happens are bound by family relationships, but nonetheless, demonstrate loving friendship and solidarity towards each other.
Elizabeth provides sanctuary for Mary, her young bewildered and pregnant cousin. We hear that Mary went to Elizabeth in haste, no doubt afraid and desperate to escape the prying and judgemental gaze of her neighbours. There were no phones, emails or texts, no Facebook or WhatsApp; Mary will have just arrived unannounced, and Elizabeth is overjoyed to see her – Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
There is no judgement here, just pure and unadulterated love and friendship. Women committed to each other, looking out for one another, being good to one another; and let’s not forget that there was a big age gap between them, Mary was not seeking the love and support of a contemporary, but clearly that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Elizabeth was there for Mary.
This scene is depicted in so many paintings, just google it and see! But for me there is a particular painting by the artist Brother. Mickey McGrath, OSFS, a commission from the Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis called ‘Windsock Visitation’, take a look at it https://www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org/2010/06/windsock-visitation-an-invitation-to-respond-to-art/ (the Visitation Sisters website). The picture is full of ‘joie de vivre’ but what is also significant is the inscription on it which says:
“This is the place of our delight and rest”.
The Visitation has also inspired music and poetry and one poem I love is by the Poet Sarah Are, called ‘Joy Like Water’:
Mary went to Elizabeth’s house,
Because that’s what we do when the world falls apart. That’s what we do when the script is flipped,
When the rug is pulled,
When it rains inside.
We go home.
We find friends.
We find love.So, Mary went to Elizabeth’s house,
Harbouring good news that must have felt like water— Something capable of helping her float or pulling her under. And only then,
Only there,
In the presence of a face that looked like love,
Does the word “joy” appear.Mary said, “How can this be?”
The angel said, “Do not be afraid.”
Mary said, “May it be so.”
But when Mary went to Elizabeth’s house and Elizabeth opened the door,
Joy—like a tipped cup of water—
Spilled out everywhere.I imagine that Elizabeth laughed.
I imagine that Mary framed her growing belly.
I imagine that both women pressed palms to stomach when that baby began to kick,
A holy ritual as old as time.
I imagine that God smiled.
And I imagine, that for the first time,
Mary could float.Isn’t it always that way?
I could harbour joy to myself.
I could tuck joyful moments deep into pockets, saving memories of better days for long nights. But when I share my joy with you,
When you open the door,
Joy spills out everywhere,
And it is love that helps me float.
With every fibre of my being, I hope that our churches are that place of sanctuary, where joy like water spills out allowing each one of us to float in love. Where the boundaries of age or gender, sexuality, race and whatever else simply fade away, and where we together are one family that in each other finds the promise of new life in Christ our true place of delight and rest.
Enjoy the summer with every blessing.
Fr Paul.