Throughout my upbringing, I never knew authentic sisterhood. Beyond not having a sister, I switched schools often and never formed enduring friendships. I remember how once I got to high school people incessantly asked, “Who’s your Elizabeth?” in youth group—and truthfully, my answer was different every year. I had never seen a female friendship stick around long enough to know its true power, and I viewed this Gospel, Luke 1:39-45, as the cheesy reminder of “sisterhood” I may never know.
It it surely redemptive to write this from the apartment I share with four women, all of whom take on my joy like it is their own.
As I let today’s Gospel take root in my life, I am convinced that sisterhood is important to salvation history. In the way Mary travels to Elizabeth in haste, there is an urgency in which we are called to share His promise with each other. In Elizabeth’s celebration of Mary’s arrival, there is a grand call to recognize God's presence in each other. In Elizabeth’s blessing, there is an ongoing need to pray with and for each other. This Gospel is a truthful model of how our Blessed Mother took on the call of sisterhood, and I know that in today’s world, I need to cling to its message more than ever.
Sisters, I am not sure what your community looks like at the moment. Maybe you do not feel like you have your “Elizabeth” and I have been there. Yet, I know by this Gospel that Jesus desires holy female companionship for our lives, and that He is keeping His word across generations.
Like Mary and Elizabeth, I hope we can press into the knowledge that the Lord is fulfilling His promises to us, in the here and now. Even in the longing or unfinished, He is healing our wounds and breathing life into our relationships because the world needs the witness of our sisterhood.
Holy Spirit, make Your home in our communities and rebuild our love for another, but most importantly, for You.
Jesus desires holy female companionship for our lives. // Sarah ElizabethClick to tweet
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Sarah Elizabeth is a politics pre-law major at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Born and raised in Arizona, she finds great joy in mountains, lattes, American history, and the piano. She is constantly discovering Christ's wild love in the little things.
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