Advent 4: Surprise! What Do You Do When Something Happens You Least Expect

This morning, our conversation concerns Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Elizabeth (her cousin), the mother of John the Baptist; the woman who likely served as her midwife and helped her through her pregnancy, as we can infer Mary did for her. Mary could have reluctantly expected the birth of her baby or she could have graciously accepted her fate, as the mother of Jesus; she could have run away (to certain death) or she could have remained within the shelter of her loved ones. She chose the latter (with the help of a visit from the angel Gabriel); so she chose to graciously accept and faithfully remain.