Why me?

In today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-45), we have the very familiar account of the Visitation, as the Blessed Virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.

The first thing that comes out of Elizabeth’s mouth is repeated as many as a million times every day in the prayer known as the Hail Mary:

Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

The second thing she says, while not quite as famous, is important for our consideration in these last days before Christmas:

And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord
should come to me?

We can very easily resonate with what Elizabeth is saying.

Consider all of the galaxies and stars and planets in the Universe.

Consider how infinitesimally small our time on this planet, as individuals or even as a race.

Consider the evil we do, the pettiness that fills our lives, and the selfishness that occupies our thoughts.

And how does this happen…?
that the only begotten Son of God
should come to us?

How does this happen
that Infinity and Eternity itself
should become one of us?

How does this happen
that the Lord of all the Universe
should be born in a stable
and die on a cross
for us?

Yet so it is.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes.