Mary visits Elizabeth. What do we know about these two women? Let’s start with Elizabeth: What do we know about Elizabeth? (ask folks)
- Mother of John the Baptist
- ‘relative’ to Mary
- Conceived in her ‘old age’
- 6 months pregnant when Mary visits
- Child in the womb jumps at Mary’s greeting
- Mary stays with her about 3 months before returning to her home (Luke 1:56)
What do we know about Mary? (ask folks)
- Young
- Betrothed to Joseph
- Mother of Jesus
- Virgin (inexperienced)
How do we imagine this encounter? To what extent does this encounter resonate with our own experiences? Can we imagine being pregnant and visiting with a family member who is also pregnant? What would we that encounter be like? What might we say? How might this time together be spent? What wisdom might be shared? How might this impact our experience of being pregnant? (Conversation)
We get a glimpse of how this experience impacts Elizabeth and Mary in their respective proclamations. They both become prophetic in this encounter. Mary’s Magnificat, which was our psalm today, is one of the most profound and transformative messages in the Bible. She doesn’t mince words. She acknowledges what God has done for her and what God is doing in and through her.
The strength and wisdom of women comes through particularly strong in the Christmas story because of Mary and Elizabeth. It is up to us to embrace their stories, learn from them, celebrate these, and create spaces through which the wisdom and strength of women can continue to shine.
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
May we, generously share our stories, our wisdom from generation to generation, in the Church and beyond trusting that God, working in and through us can, and has always done infinitely more than we can ask or imagines. This we pray as we sing: Breath of Heaven