“And Mary ran in haste after knowing that her cousin Elizabeth was with the child and entered into the house of Zachariah”. (cf. Lk.1:39-40).
The Word ‘entered’ in verse 39 is very rich in the context of the situation. I am sure you will agree that each of us enter into… a mall, a shop or a restaurant. It’s obvious, only if one enters into… can the rest of the things be done. But nowadays we don’t easily enter anybody’s house due to covid!
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Yet, we have Mary who entered not only into the house of Zachariah but much before when she heard the message from the Angel: “Look, your relative Elizabeth carrying a child and is in the sixth month (Lk. 1:36). She understands Elizabeth as she hears the message and enters into her life situation, she has compassion.
Mary is challenging us, as she makes herself available 24×7 to Elizabeth, understands her and stays with her. Yes, she entered into Elizabeth’s life (pain, the daily household chores, mental ordeal) and her presence made the difference! We also come to know that “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the infant within her leaped.” (cf. Lk. 1: 41).
This moment the Spirit enlightens bringing to mind the passage of the Good Samaritan. In this passage we have three different characters, with three distinct attitudes. It is the Good Samaritan who gets down from the animal, pours oil and wine, cleanses his wounds and bandages and then takes him to the inn asking the inn-keeper to take care.(cf. Lk 10: 33ff). Through this act of courage and compassion, the Good Samaritan enters into his life and makes the difference.
When in a world where people are ready to do anything to gain power, status, fame for self interest, compromise even against any evil the young maiden of Nazareth and the Good Samaritan empower us, to empower others by entering into the cry of humankind, into the needy brethren may be our own the aged, the sick, neglected or even whom we consider as our enemies.
As “man suffers in different ways, ways not always considered by medicine, not even in its most advanced specialisations. Suffering is something which is still wider than sickness, more complex and at the same time still more deeply rooted in humanity itself. A certain idea of this problem comes to us from the distinction between physical suffering and moral suffering. This distinction is based upon the double dimension of the human being and indicates the bodily and spiritual element as the immediate or direct subject of suffering. Insofar as the words suffering and pain, can, up to a certain degree, be used as synonyms, physical suffering is present when the body is hurting in some way, whereas moral suffering is pain of the soul” (Salvific Doloris no. 5).
The humble Virgin of Nazareth filled with the Holy Spirit was empowered and fortified to go against the current, to kindle the gift of love within her through her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. No doubt, everyone does their bit but a deeper thought into these reflections may pave way to compassion and inspire us to stay with the needy as the Church celebrates the Feast of The Visitation of Mary and reminds us of our duty towards the other.
