According to the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, Mary received the astonishing news from the angel Gabriel that she would bear Jesus. This must have been incredibly difficult for her to process – being a young, unmarried woman suddenly finding herself pregnant. How old was she? Based on the customs of the region, Mary was likely just 15 or 16 years old, if not younger. 

Who would believe her? What could she say? She desperately needed someone to talk to, so she travelled far to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was also experiencing an unusual pregnancy. Together, they shared their fears, joys, and uncertainties. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, likely until John the Baptist was born. 

I’ve always been drawn to the stories of women in scripture – their lives, struggles, love, anger and resilience, and this story beautifully portrays pregnancy and the bond of sisterhood and solidarity between women. Pregnancy can be a source of pride, but often, especially in its early stages, it brings worry, fear, and vulnerability. Emotions run high. 

I remember my own experience – the endless worry about the cough syrup that I had taken or the coffee that I had enjoyed before realizing I was pregnant. In those moments of anxiety, I often called my sister. She kindly listened to me, offering practical advice and sharing her experiences. 

We would talk about morning sickness and the baby kicks in our bellies, laughing about how our preferences shifted due to hormone changes – craving sweets, sour flavours, or extra spicy food – and often ended up overeating together. I believe sharing the struggles and joys of pregnancy is a universal experience, transcending time and cultures. It likely wasn’t so different for women in Palestine 2,000 years ago. A pregnant woman finds comfort and reassurance in another pregnant woman who can listen, understand, and share in her journey.  

As we read the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, we see that Mary and Elizabeth find themselves in very different situations. While Luke tells us they are cousins, their lives present significant contrasts beyond this family relationship.

First, Elizabeth is well-do-to, while Mary is not. Elizabeth lives in the city, whereas Mary lives in the countryside. Elizabeth comes from a priestly family, while Mary’s family tree is far less distinguished. Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, is a high priest, while Mary’s husband, Joseph, is a mere carpenter. Elizabeth lives in the City of David, while Mary lives in Nazareth, a place often dismissed with the phrase, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nazareth was clearly seen as being on the wrong side of the tracks. Moreover, Galilee, where Mary is from, and Judea, where Elizabeth lives, are not only geographically distant but also culturally and economically distinct from one another. The people of these regions held a deep-seated hostility toward one another.  

Despite these differences, the two women come together, breaking through barriers of status, geography, and culture. Their story reminds us of the unifying power of faith and solidarity.   

We can no longer imagine Mary as the submissive woman she has often been portrayed as. Despite their differences, Mary and Elizabeth became close friends, sharing the unique circumstances of their pregnancies and offering mutual encouragement.

This deep connection was likely the work of the Holy Spirit. The spirit brought them together, enabling them to greet each other with love and kindness, understand their fears and joys, and offer mutual encouragement. In their friendship, we see how divine grace creates unity and strength amidst diversity.

When Elizabeth sees Mary, she immediately recognizes her as a woman uniquely blessed by God. She exclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb….”  

Imagine how affirming Elizabeth’s words must have been for Mary! In a moment of uncertainty and vulnerability, Elizabeth’s trust, encouragement, and support liberated Mary from her fears and doubts, as well as from feelings of weakness and inadequacy. Through this powerful affirmation, Mary was strengthened during her crisis. After three months of this loving friendship, Mary was filled with renewed courage to return home and face whatever challenges awaited her. 

Perhaps, like me, you have experienced moments in your life journey when the encouragement and support of friends, family or partners gave you the strength to carry on during a crisis. Or perhaps you have been the supportive partner, walking alongside someone through their challenges. As a church, we, too, are called to embody this mutual respect and solidarity, just as Mary and Elizabeth demonstrated in this ancient story from our faith tradition. 

Their unity in joy culminates in Mary’s song, the Magnificat, which links God’s mercy with justice for humanity. The Magnificat is not merely a song about motherhood but a bold proclamation of God’s liberating justice for all who are oppressed. 

Mary’s challenging situation makes her especially aware of the Holy Spirit’s liberating power, inspiring her song that challenges old beliefs and turns them around.  In the Catholic tradition in Latin America, Mary has often been portrayed as a figure of submission. However, in Luke’s Gospel, we encounter a different Mary – bold, resilient, and transformative – who asks the angel Gabriel with curiosity and courage before embracing her role in bearing the Messiah and proclaiming justice. 

This encounter between Mary and Elizabeth reminds us of the intercultural vision within our faith community. Despite their differences, these two women overcome what separates them through the shared miracle of the lives they carry within them. They celebrate their differences, offering blessing and affirmation. Through this support, Mary finds the strength to face her crisis, returning home after three months, ready to face what lies ahead. Our intercultural ministry calls us to celebrate our differences, offering each other encouragement and support as we journey together in faith.

Today, as we move through this Christmas season, we long for Mary’s song to become our own. Her song of hope is the song we sing for our intercultural ministry. As Advent people, we embrace her words and sing them together – not despite our differences but because of them. We sing in unity, knowing that solidarity brings salvation. We sing in faith, knowing that God hears our song. 

As we await during this Advent season, we sing, dance, and hope together, trusting that God’s will is for us to experience and share the joy of a world transformed by love.