Between the Feast of the Annunication and the Birth of John the Baptist, we remember Mary's visit to her relative Elizabeth, expecting her child at a time when there could be no human expectation of a child. The meeting of these two women, bearing children conceived out of God's promise beyond the possibilities of nature, is a moment of intense joy for both. No doubt, Mary was already radiant with the joy of motherhood. But Elizabeth's joy was in the glory of God's presence, visible to her eyes of faith. Mary came bringing that glory into the lives of Elizabeth and her child, later to be named John, "God gives" "the gift of God".

Today's feast is full of joy and hope, because of the great things which God had done for Mary and Elizabeth. In the sequence of mysteries, these great things have still to bear fruit, and so the joy is not for something gone past: like all Christian joy, it is alive with a sense of promise and expectancy.