"Mary set out proceeding in haste". Commentators on Luke's Gospel generally note the deeper implication of these words: Mary did not stay at home in the intimacy of her family to rejoice at the great thing that God had done for her. She immediately went off to her elderly relative Elizabeth.

In his preaching of the Gospel Jesus will tell us that in his community greatness is accomplished through service of others. So in various Gospel passages we note that Mary naturally and spontaneously thought of other people and their needs. The Gospel also teaches us, at least indirectly, that Mary did not experience her visit to Elizabeth as a burden: rather it turned out to be an occasion of great joy for both women. The encounter between Mary and Elizabeth gave rise to the first Beatitudes spoken within Christianity: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb" and "Blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled." It was only in this encounter and not in the Annunciation to herself, that Mary spoke her Magnificat: a spiritual revelation to us that joy is most easily recognized when shared willingly and spontaneously with others.