Mary and Elizabeth
9th December 2021
Today at Communion we had this lovely reading about Mary visiting Elizabeth…
Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!”
Mary said,“My heart praises the Lord;
my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,
for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy; from one generation to another
he shows mercy to those who honour him.
He has stretched out his mighty arm
and scattered the proud with all their plans.
He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,
and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
and to all his descendants forever!”Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.
from Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 1
We looked at a picture of this encounter:
- What do you notice?
We saw the door open – and unlocked – and the cake being made… Signs of welcome, from Elizabeth to Mary – but also perhaps a picture of the way both have opened their hearts and bodies to what God is bringing to birth through them.
We saw signs of good things to come, but not ready yet – the cake is not yet in the oven, the women await the arrival of their children.
We saw warmth, love and affection – the importance of having someone to wait with.
- Look again at the picture. What especially captures your attention?
- What might that be saying to you?
- As you reflect, is there something you want to say to God?