On this feast of the Assumption of Mary, the readings challenge us to take Mother Mary and Elizabeth too as models of Christian living in our world today.

In the Visitation account, we see Elizabeth conscious of being in the presence of God and her cry reminds us of the words of David as the ark of Covenant, symbol of God's presence among His people, came into the holy city, "However can the ark of Yahweh come to me?" (2 Sam 6:9); and Mary using the words sung by Hannah at the birth of Samuel (1 Sam 2:1-10) breaks into such exultant praise. As the Mother of the Lord she is speaking for the whole of her race that has laboured to bring forth the Child of Promise.

We also see that the Jewish Christians saw themselves as the poor ones, the remnant of the ones faithful to God's covenant. Luke used the "Poor ones" (Anawim) in Acts 2:43-47, 4:32-37 who, despite all odds, continued to rely and trust God. It is in this context that in the Magnificat, Mary foretells that the Child she bore is to be one who came to bring salvation of justice and peace.