Tuesday 31 May 2011

Visitation

A story as old as the ages. Two expectant mothers getting together - a chat, comparing symptoms - one telling the other what to expect.

They're cousins - one too old for all this, one probably too young. That ironic exclamation - "Blessed art thou among women".

Blessed in what way, Elizabeth? To carry the weight of the Universe? - the hopes and expectations of the nations - to know the pain of a Christmas night, the brightness of that Christmas morning - the loss (and finding) coming home from Jerusalem - or that deeper loss and discovery - on a dark Friday afternoon and a bright Sunday morning?

You never saw your own son's passion, Elizabeth - so maybe you were the blessed one. What a two-edged sword is a blessing. How bitter became the Baptist's joy. But how bright Mary's son made the darkness.

(Luke 1:39-56)

3 comments :

  1. Lovely and very true. Eileen, you're becoming rather poetic :-)

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  2. Yes, what Perpetua said. Lovely, true, and very poetic!

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  3. As above; yes, truly excellent.

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