Holding Joy for Each Other

Luke 1:24-45

Zechariah had emerged from lighting the incense in the Temple unable to speak and gesturing about them having a baby. It wasn’t long after that Elizabeth began to have morning sickness – again. It had been a long time since she had been on this roller coaster. She thought the excitement and disappointment were finally over – I mean, she was 88 and Zechariah was 90. He had asked for proof of what the angel promised and instead was silenced, unable to speak. She just didn’t dare hope, yet. So many times she had – and then there was no child – and the other women would rally around her – finally, they would bubble, “You’re going to be a mother,” the cultural shame of being barren would be lifted and then when the pregnancy ended – it slammed down, it seemed, harder than ever. She wasn’t going to do it again. She wasn’t telling anyone. She wasn’t inviting anyone into this space of quiet hope.

5 months passed. Until there was a knock. She stayed quiet, not answering the door. Perhaps they would go. She heard someone enter. “Elizabeth!” at the sound of the voice, the baby within her felt like he did a summersault! She was filled with the Holy Spirit – faith flooded her doubt and suddenly she knew not just that she was bearing a child, but that Mary was as well. Hers, the one to close an age, and Mary’s, the one to usher in the new.

Both women were scared and weary. Elizabeth of the shame of yet another loss, of getting her hopes for respect in the community up. Mary, of the shame of a delivery out of wedlock, of losing her reputation and being disrespected in the community. Elizabeth’s solution was to hide in her house. Mary’s solution was to hide away from her house. She’d walked 80 miles to Elizabeth’s house. At 3 miles an hour, that’s nearly 27 hours. Add in hills and pregnancy – it was a journey, one she made alone. Her body was weary as she arrived, and after so long alone with her thoughts, replaying the visit of the angel, the conversations with her family – and Joseph, oh, the look on his face – she was worn down and weary as she knocked and got no answer…figures…”Elizabeth” she called, her much older cousin, married to a priest…if anyone would accept her, take her in and maybe even if she didn’t believe her, not condemn her. And then she saw her beaming face!

It was in that moment of connection – the long embrace – the sharing of their stories, that joy came. Their conversation went something like this:
“Mary, when I heard you call my name, the baby moved! He kicked so hard – I thought I had felt him move before, but I was afraid I was just imagining it. He leapt within me when he heard your voice!”
“Elizabeth, an angel told me that you were pregnant and that I would be too. I asked how it was possible, and he said it was by the Holy Spirit. He said “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
“Mary, that’s what the angel told Abraham and Sarah!”
“I know! It’s the creed behind all creeds! Nothing is impossible with God!”

There they were, two cousins holding joy for each other. One old, the other young. One long married, one not yet married. One had been unable to leave home, the other unable to stay home.

For three months, Mary stays with Elizabeth. For three months, they hold joy for one another, gain strength from their connection. They share this journey, one carrying the one who prepares the way and the other carrying the Way.

We don’t know whether Mary stayed until just before John was born, or if she was there to see him safely delivered and then went home. We do know that she gained contentment and deep joy from their time together and was then ready to go home, trusting God to hold her future and the future of the child she carried.

I don’t know what wearying challenges you have faced or are facing now. But I offer you these words of comfort from Rev. Cecelia Armstrong, “When we are weary, we find it hard to express joy. When we are weary, we might find it hard to share space with others because our weariness has seemingly stolen our joy.” But, “joy is fundamentally rooted in connection…We experience joy through feeling a deep [peaceful] connection to ourselves, our loved ones, to God, to nature, and to the whole cosmos around us.”

The prophet Isaiah speaks God’s imperative command, “Comfort, comfort my people.” Connect. Hold joy for the ones who are weary. Speak tenderly to them, “Our God is powerful – Nothing is impossible with God! Speak tenderly to them so they will know that this journey will not always be so hard. The rough places are being smoothed out, the valleys are being filled in, and the mountains are being leveled; and they are not alone. Speak tenderly to them, “The shepherd loves you and gathers you in his mighty arms and carries you close to his heart. The shepherd is with you, gently leading you to water that is still enough to drink and pastures that are green enough to eat. Searching for you when you are lost, and returning you to the company of the flock.”
Because when we are afraid, when we are weary, when all seems lost, what is most needed is connection. Stroking a dog or a cat curled, trusting, in our lap; a talk with someone who listens and cares,… Who is holding joy for you? For whom is God nudging you to hold joy?