LK 1:39-45 I choose you.

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

(Click here fore readings)
by Kim Elenez

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.

Life is hard. There are so many stressful things keeping us busy and occupying our time - the commute, bills, soccer practice, ballet, work commitments, and the list goes on. We look forward to the weekend because those things tend to not effect us as much on Saturday and Sunday. On the weekend, we can decide what we want to do! Oh, but then there is the grocery shopping, soccer games, birthday parties, and the list goes on again. Before you know it, the weekend is over, and we start the week again. Step and repeat.

We don't want to admit it, but the reality is that we choose all these things. We choose to be busy. Maybe our choice is because we want a certain lifestyle or have a goal that we want to achieve. But make no mistake -- it is our choice. The Lord gave us the concept of choice for a very good reason.

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste

Mary knew what she was doing, and she was in a hurry to get there. Imagine it - you're this young woman, not yet married and pregnant. Oh, and an angel came to you and told you that your unborn child is God. How's that for a predicament! Mary had a lot of choices, didn't she? Get rid of the baby (the "easy" thing to do). Or keep the baby and tell your family (the "hard" thing to do.) Well, thankfully she chose the hard thing. I pray that more women will choose the hard thing. No one ever regretted having a baby. But there are thousands upon thousands who now regret not having their babies.

As for Mary, she chose purely. Then she hightailed it to her cousin's house. 

[Quick side note - those of us women who have been pregnant know that traveling "in haste" when you're pregnant is the last thing on your list. I spent 9 months getting bigger by the second (thank you, hamburgers.)]

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? 

I can imagine that when Mary walked up to Elizabeth's door and began to knock that she was nervous and scared. What will she say? Perhaps "Mary! What have you gotten yourself into?!" But, no. Elizabeth met her with joy - inside and out. For she (and John) knew that something big was happening here. 

Isn't that the case when we go to other people with our fears? We fear rejection more than anything else, because if you reject me, not only am I dealing with this challenge in my life, but now I have lost you too.

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

During this Advent season, think about the people you have rejected in some way over the years. Maybe even in the smallest way. Perhaps it's a friend that calls way too much, so now you avoid her calls. Or maybe it’s a co-worker who doesn't add value to the team like you want, so you have written him off. Of course, this doesn't mean you have to surround yourself with people you pity. It means you need to behave like the Lord is watching. Because He is.

The Lord calls us to love one another as we love Him.  By choosing someone who is rejected, you choose the Lord. By running to someone when you need support, you give them the opportunity to show the Lord they choose you and Him. 

This meditation was written by Kim Elenez, wife, mother and media executive in Dallas. Kim converted to Catholicism in 2012.