Commentary on the Gospel of
Mary’s Dance
Why did Mary visit Elizabeth after receiving the annunciation? The popular and pietistic answer is, to help her cousin who had conceived in her old age. Really? If so, wasn’t it cruel of Mary to abandon Elizabeth and return home when Elizabeth was in her ninth month and about to give birth? So, why did she go? When one receives an exceedingly incomprehensible experience, it is only human to seek out the company of someone who has had a similar experience: to confide in, to open up one’s heart, to confirm, and when it all sinks in, to celebrate! The moment Mary saw the six-month pregnant cousin, she knew her own experience to be true! At that moment, she could only break into a song and dance (Magnificat)! The Visitation is all about two hearts celebrating God’s amazing break-in to their lives! Let’s not reduce it to just a domestic help. (Of course, being a nice girl, Mary would have helped her cousin while she was there. But that’s a pretty ordinary detail.)
