News networks would have had little interest in today’s Gospel story. Mary, a virgin from small-town Nazareth — “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46) — visits her kinswoman, Elizabeth, in an even smaller town, Ein Karem, in the hill country. Two pregnant women meet in an out-of-the-way place. Mary has news: The messiah is on the brink. 

What a surprise for Mary to find out that this news beat her to Ein Karem. By some mysterious communication, Elizabeth knew. (The Baptist had already heralded the coming Messiah.) Beyond her own miraculous pregnancy, something else remarkable was taking place. She was the first to greet the Lord, who was waiting in the stillness of Mary’s womb. 

Elizabeth, whose name means “God is fullness,” blessed Mary twice. Once because of what God had done for Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And once for Mary’s response to Gabriel: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” 

Two pregnant women in a Judaic hillside, sharing news that had been awaited for hundreds of years — feeling no need to tell anyone else — but thoroughly reveling in God’s great gift. They experienced the movement of life within themselves, blessed one another and praised God. Maybe they even giggled and laughed. The joy must have been great. In time the world would come to know, but this was just their time. 

When we write and receive letters from our Unbound friends, the world does not know, unless we choose to tell. But there is a quiet joyfulness in sharing our lives with our sponsored friends who may very well be living in small towns, unlisted on most maps. And there is a joy in watching them move forward in their lives because of what we make possible. Christmas may be a good time to share another letter. 

Lord of all, inspire us to connect with sponsored friends and others who may be isolated this Christmas, so together we may experience the quiet joyfulness that comes with sharing our lives. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.