MY FAIR LADY

Gospel: Lk 1: 46-56

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Reflection

Mary must have brimmed over with careful confidence and expectation as she traveled to Elizabeth. Her mother probably wondered what was happening to Elizabeth if Mary told her at all.

Mary never doubted the angel but for her to be the Mother of the Savior was so awesome and incredible that she felt impossible not to feel that she had a mirage and it was a dream. Mary always had a perfect union with God all her life and this was the capstone, but still, it was so beautiful and breathtaking, and beyond anything she ever thought possible. Her certainty was impenetrable and she must have traveled as if she was above the ground, swimming in the air with her Beloved, communicating now in an even more splendid manner within her womb. This intimacy must have seemed as inundating as swimming in the blazing sun above but protected by God's burning love within.

Because of her profound humility perhaps she kept saying "when I see Elizabeth pregnant with my own eyes how will I be able to express myself?" Now we know, for we have her exalted “Magnificat.”

What type of sentiment and wonder do we experience when we take Holy Communion?

This journey to see Elizabeth reminds me of those beautiful lyrics written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe in the film "My Fair Lady"

My Fair Lady:

I have often walked down this street before;
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
All at once am I, several stories high.
Knowing I'm on the street where you live.
Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour, out of ev'ry door?
No, it's just on the street where you live!
And oh! the towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near.
The overpowering feeling
That any second you may suddenly appear!
People stop and stare. They don't bother me.
For there's no where else on earth that I would rather be.
Let the time go by, I won't care if I
Can be here on the street where you live.

I could have danced all night!
I could have danced all night!
And still have begged for more.
I could have spread my wings
And done a thousand things I've never done before.
I'll never know, what made it so exciting;
Why all at once, my heart took flight. I only know when he
Began to dance with me I could have danced,
danced, danced all night!