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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!”

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name.”

“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 1:39-56

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The angel Gabriel has laid a lot on Mary.

- She would no longer be a virgin but would conceive and bear a son who she would be named Jesus and carry the title of Son of the Most High, none other than God Himself. This Son would rule over all and His reign would be eternal.

- Her impregnation would not be by natural means but rather supernatural by way of the Holy Spirit joined in tandem with the power of God the Most High.

- Finally, Mary wasn’t the only one who had become with child by miraculous, divine means. For Gabriel tells Mary that one of her kinfolk, a woman by the name of Elizabeth, had also become pregnant in her elderly years and was six months into her pregnancy. Of course, there were no cell phones or email back in the early New Testament days and so Mary had no knowledge of the blessing that had happened to Elizabeth, a blessed pregnancy that was very much related to hers in ways she still yet was unaware.

And so we read in the scriptures that Gabriel had no sooner departed from Mary’s presence that she ran quickly to see Elizabeth who lived with her husband, the priest Zechariah, in a town located in the hill country of Judea. Upon arrival, Mary entered the home and greeted Elizabeth, the mere words triggering an amazing event within Elizabeth’s womb. We read where her baby, the soon-to-be John the Baptist leaped in her womb as the Holy Spirit filled her. This led to the following proclamation from Mary’s relative:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!”

Gabriel had told Mary that the Lord had favored her and now Elizabeth confirmed as much, recognizing Mary for the special privilege God had granted her. Elizabeth wanted Mary to realize that she was as blessed as the child she carried for she would soon be the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who was sent to bring salvation to all people. Of course, this happened because Mary believed and trusted in God for the plan He had for her. You’ll remember her words to Gabriel after He explained what God’s will was for her:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38

The whole experience filled Mary’s heart with incredible, overflowing joy and rejoicing, so much so that she delivers a beautiful song which conveyed her innermost feelings of praise which included:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.”

“From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name.”

“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.”

Indeed, God was good to Mary and her relative Elizabeth. They had every reason to be thankful for what He had done for them and the scriptures tell us Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months before returning home, the timing of which would have left Elizabeth nearly ready to deliver and Mary about to enter her second trimester. There would be no question that she was pregnant by the time she returned to Nazareth.

Friends, I would submit to you that we are all related in some ways to both Mary and Elizabeth. For the Lord has been good to us, more so that we deserve, and so we have every reason to give thanks, rejoice, and lift up praises to Him for all He has done, all He is doing, and all He has yet to do. In the end translation, we are all blessed by a Lord who cares for the humble state of all His servants. He loves and cares deeply for all His children and, like Mary, has a divine plan for each and every one of them

Have you discovered His plans for your life?

If so, have you submitted fully in obedience to those plans?

And have you, like Mary, raised words of commendation and admiration with affirmation for all the Lord has done and is doing for you?

As we get set to welcome our blessed Savior, perhaps there isn’t a better time to renew our love and gratitude to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, sent out of love to save us from our sins and draw us close to our Maker, Master, and Creator, not just now but forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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