Our Goal Is To Live Fully In God’s Presence

When we are in a good relationship with God, the evil spirit tries to unsettle us by making us anxious, frustrated, dissatisfied and sad. We shouldn’t enter his playing field by engaging with the temptation or arguing with these unhelpful thoughts or promptings. If we do, we’ll probably lose the battle. Instead, we should return calmly into God’s presence. As the Book of Exodus puts it: ‘The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still’ (Exodus 14:14).
Mary’s example teaches us that genuine joy comes from being united with the source of all true joy: God. The more we’re one with God, the less we are disturbed by anxieties, fears and pains. We don’t need to defend ourselves against these incursions, because God’s presence itself is our defence. Even while Mary was on earth, it was as though she were already in heaven, because she was fully in God’s presence, always adoring the one who filled her with light and with joy. And as her life approached its end, the light that had always shone in her heart became more and more intense. It drew her whole being upwards, as though it wanted to snatch her from the earth and draw her upwards where her spirit already soared, so that she could sing her beautiful Magnificat in gratitude to God forever and ever. 

Thomas Casey SJ, Smile of Joy: Mary of Nazareth