A Visit to The Hill Country
One of the most popular areas of Texas is the Hill Country. It is the geographical region encompassing 25 counties from the border of Mexico, northeast to Williamson County - just north of Austin. There are seven regions in Texas: The Panhandle Plains, Prairies and Lakes, Pineywoods, Gulf Coast, South Texas Plains, Big Bend Country, and in the center, the Hill Country.
One has to remember, Texas is very large. From east to west is 773 miles. So. travel from one region to another takes time. In our time, we are blessed with the ability to jump in our vehicles and hit the road without too much expense or inconvenience. Imagine if we lived in the Old West and had to take a Prairie Schooner across Texas. Now imagine the trek Mary, the mother of Jesus, would have taken on foot to the “hill country” to visit Elizabeth in the house of Zechariah. The distance would have been about 80-100 miles and it would have been traveled by foot - no Teslas or Dodge Rams.
We read about the visit in the coming Sunday’s Gospel from Luke Chapter 1: 39-45:
“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” NAB
This is one of the most important Biblical stories about Mary. One only has to read it to realize how important Mary was to the life of Jesus as the Messiah. Catholics are criticized often by people who misunderstand the honor that is bestowed on Mary. We do not worship Mary, contrary to Protestant belief. Mary is venerated as the model human who humbly did the will of God.
This Christmas Season may we all venture to the “Hill Country” to aid another, as Mary did for Elizabeth, and may we take the love of God from our own place to the world!