Sunday, December 20th Kim Gittman
Luke 1:39-45
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
This verse makes me realize miracles happen. The birth of two babies by two women that were believed to not be able to have children. Elizabeth beyond child bearing years and Mary a child herself and a virgin. Then to give birth to two great men, John the Baptist and Jesus. This is truly miraculous. We need to stop and pause and realize what has come in our lives that are true miracles. We must be thankful.
It is also is test of one’s trust and faith. Mary and Elizabeth putting great trust in the angel who delivers the news of the coming births and the strong faith to believe something so unbelievable. Because these women had such strong faith in the Lord and each other they truly believed what the angel had told them . This is a testament to leaning on our faith when others may seem skeptical and not there for us.
And it is a story of great joy. The joy of Jesus coming, the joy the women shared with each other, the joy Elizabeth felt with Mary’s presence and how her own child felt Jesus’ presence in her womb.
Mary and Elizabeth showed us that with trust, faith and joy that miracles can come to us if we just believe.