All the great spiritual leaders in history were people of hope.
Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Mary, Jesus, Rumi, Ghandi and Dorothy Day
all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them towards
the future without the need to know exactly what it would look like.
Let’s live with hope. ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
“How will this be?” Mary asked. The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age…For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1: 34-37
Women today are speaking of what are called signs of evolutionary consciousness manifested in:
1) a compass of joy knowing that we can give more than we think we can,
2) resonance or a fusion of genius for giving our gifts as women,
3) awakening to life’s purpose causing us to echo together to the world more than we can do alone, and
4) communion in deep loving space with one another. This was true of the reality with Mary and Elizabeth too. They called forth from one another their essence of co-creativity for God’s mission.
When Mary questions the angel how she can be the mother of God, Mary is given Elizabeth as a sign that nothing is impossible with God. Mary runs to see her living sign. Elizabeth stood in amazement. Silent stirrings within each of them leap for joy.
With the seed of the Living Christ, we are like these two women. Our privilege is to abide with the One who holds together the whole cosmos. Surrounded by a throng of holy women, we are filled with hope and Christ’s body breaking in upon our lives.
Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Printed with permission from LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious)