Luke 1:34-39. Mary questions Gabriel at the Annunciation - "How can this be, since I have no husband?" Gabriel explains that Jesus will be conceived by the Holy Spirit and will be holy, the Son of God. The angel also tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who was thought barren, is now in her sixth month of pregnancy. "For with God nothing will be impossible." Mary then says "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; Let it be done to me according to your word." The angel departs, and Mary sets out to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

I often think of how, in this short but monumentally important conversation, Gabriel makes a point to mention Elizabeth's pregnancy. Ostensibly, he does it to show that nothing is impossible with God, to give Mary more reason to trust and understand, but Gabriel is also planting the seed here for the Visitation. Elizabeth is already in her sixth month, and Mary's family does not yet know of her pregnancy. There is no reason to think that they would ever get news of it before the child was born. There was no means of quick communication, and each family was going about its own business. But it was essential for Mary to visit Elizabeth - for John the Baptist to be "baptized in utero" in order to fulfill his mission.

So Gabriel tells Mary about Elizabeth, and Mary, knowing now that her cousin is also pregnant with a miraculous conception, now knows there is someone she can talk to who will somewhat understand what is happening to her. Of course she sets out right away! I'm sure Mary's parents and family were very supportive and trusting, but there is no way they could have really understood what happened to Mary. I'm sure they had questions and doubts that Mary could not answer. But, because of Gabriel's words, Mary knows that Elizabeth has had a similar experience - she knows to go right to Elizabeth, and she does, "in haste."

When Mary arrives, John leaps in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit - giving us the second part of the hail Mary (Gabriel having giving us the first) "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

Through Elizabeth, God gives Mary all the confirmation she could possibly need that this is indeed his glorious plan, and the comfort that he will give her the grace, people, and support she will need to fulfill her part in it.

How wonderful is our God! Nothing is impossible with him!