Elizabeth said to Mary,
Lk 1:39-45
“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.”
6th Misa de Gallo
After receiving Jesus in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, Gabriel broke to Mary the news of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
Elizabeth was quite old and with her pregnancy she would need help in keeping house for Zechariah. Who would assist her clean the house, do the dishes, wash clothes and cook the food? She needed all the help Mary could give.
Mary then rushed and travelled 90 miles for 5 days to her cousin Elizabeth.
Jesus was born many years ago in Bethlehem. But every Christmas He is born again in every Christian who helps without hesitation those in need. Like Mary, rushing to aid those in need, is the evident sign that Jesus is already born in you this Christmas.
In fact on Christmas there is the meeting of two Christs: the Christ in the needy brethren and the Christ in the Christian who assists the needy brethren.
Unfortunately in some developed countries one hesitates and even refuses to help those in need of help. In those places, the one who helps could be sued by the one who is helped in the event that the situation of the one who is helped is aggravated due to the intervention of the one helping.
Again like Mary, let no fear stop us from helping those in need. Let us not think twice but act quickly to help. With Christ borne in us who can be against us?