Luke 1:39-57 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:39-57 on biblegateway.com
Verse 39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, Verse 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Verse 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit Verse 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Verse 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? Verse 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. Verse 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." Verse 46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, Verse 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, Verse 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Verse 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Verse 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Verse 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. Verse 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; Verse 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Verse 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, Verse 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Verse 56And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Verse 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
Devotion
Elizabeth, an elderly wife of a priest, righteous before God, blameless according to the commandments and regulations of the Lord, was expecting a child. And what a child! Jesus said of him, “Among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.” This well-married and pious woman’s prayers for a child had been unanswered for years, but were now granted.
And when she is visited by the unwed but pregnant Mary, she is not bitter, indignant or condemning. Her womb is excited. She recognizes this young girl will be the mother of her Lord, the fulfillment of a long-awaited prophecy. Elizabeth believed in the eventual fulfillment of a Messiah and revealed the divine identity in her welcome to Mary.
Elizabeth and Mary both took the word of promise from God and believed it. And in believing God’s promises, they both honored God for what God was doing in and through them. We too can trust in God’s promises and be daily visited by His presence.
Prayer
O Lord, bless our visits. May our greetings be a blessing to all. Help us recognize and welcome your presence in our lives. Amen.