Breaking the Word

During those days 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. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice and said, "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. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."  Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (Lk 1:39-56)

It is Mary who makes the move to visit her cousin. Mary was informed by the angel that she would bear the son who will be the son of God. She was also told that her cousin would bear a son. Which of these news compelled her to make such a long journey? Was it her motherhood that made her to journey or the news of the motherhood of a barren woman? Whatever be it: it was the motherhood that made her journey all the way.

Elizabeth realized the greatness of the event that was unravelling in her time and she praised Mary and the son who was to be born. She could not but praise God for the great things that were happening in her world. Elizabeth was concerned about the single event that was happening in her time and around her.

Mary also realized the great event that was taking place in her time. Mary was concerned about what was happening in the world. She was concerned about a national event, a social event: an event that upset the whole humanity and the whole world. God was active in this event.   

"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. "I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you. "I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. (Jn 15:26-16:4a)

The spirit will testify. You will testify. To testify means to bear witness. It means to speak for the other; to stand for the other; ready to face any consequence for the other; be ready even to give one’s own life for the other. Why to they testify? They testify because they have been with Jesus. Theo spirit is from Jesus which means spirit has been with Jesus. The disciples bear witness because they have been with Jesus from the beginning. Total and complete indwelling is needed to testify or to bear witness.

They will expel you. Because one belongs to Jesus or because one bears witness to Jesus he will be expelled. Not only they will expel the disciple by they will also think that they are doing the right thing in front of God. They may even consider this as sacrifice and worship. But Jesus says that they are all wrong. Because any one who belongs to Jesus or any one who has the indwelling of Jesus then he belongs to God and he cannot be expelled. It only means they do not know God.

Knowledge of God; closeness with God; will make one inclusive. Anyone who says that he belongs to God but in stead begins to divide and speaks of divisive language then he does no have the indwelling of God in him. This is a beautiful criterion to find out the presence of God in one. God is present in anyone who welcomes the other and allows the other to grow and helps him to succeed to find God.