Mary Visits Elizabeth
39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Gabriel tells Mary that Elizabeth is pregnant, and Mary immediately goes to visit her. She doesn’t wait to hear if it is true. She doesn’t ignore the miracle so she can stay in her comfortable home living her comfortable life. No, Mary has faith in God’s word and wants to be part of God’s plan so she takes action. I need to be more like that. I need to read what God has to say and listen to the Holy Spirit in my heart, have faith, and take action. How much have I missed and whom have I left down because I didn’t have the faith and courage to act?
As soon as Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting the baby in her womb leaps. God is with us from our moment of conception. I noticed that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit after the baby leapt in her womb. The baby, the being with no intelligence, experience, or reason could be moved by the Spirit and used by God. The child’s life wasn’t cluttered with this world yet and could easily be used by God. How often am I NOT sensitive to God or used by God because I am not simply listening and available?
Elizabeth, because she is moved by the Holy Spirit utters the perfect greeting for Mary at this time. It was as if she was there with Gabriel when he spoke to Mary. It’s amazing what God can do with us if we let him!
Holy Spirit, move me to action, and perhaps the first action should be to quiet my life so I can hear your words and be moved to do the actions you want me to do.
