The Gospel of Luke 1:39-55
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor 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 forever.”
Let Us Pray: Advent 4 Prayer
God of all hope, peace, joy and love, open our hearts in welcome, that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.
Lighting the Advent Candles
Last Sunday we lit the candle of Hope, remembering the hope which comes in Christ, the candle of Peace, remembering God’s dream of a peaceful world, and the candle of Joy, remembering the Spirit within us who brings joy. Today we light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love.
Scripture tells us “There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear.” God created this world in love and this world will end in the love of God. God’s love pervades all aspects of this life. From birth to death, pain to delight, strangers to lovers, God’s love is there.
We light this candle in Love.
On this day, we remember God is Love.
Immediately before today’s reading, (Luke 1: 35: The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.) Mary had been visited by the angel Gabriel and told she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus the Messiah. In response to her shock at this impossible thing, the angel tells her of her barren elderly relative Elizabeth, now miraculously and impossibly six months pregnant. So, when the angel leaves, Mary sets out to find Elizabeth and see this other impossible pregnancy for herself. These two mothers-to-be come together, mothers bearing children who will change the world as we know it forever. Joy in the Presence of Christ is the joy that both Elizabeth and her unborn child experience in the presence of Mary and Jesus encourages us to find joy in our own encounters with Christ. This joy is not just an emotional response but a deep, spiritual recognition of God’s love in our lives. When she enters Elizabeth’s house, she doesn’t find judgment or doom-and-gloom. She is met with joy. “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” What must have it meant for Mary to have heard those words. Like all the weight lifted off her shoulders. After feeling shame and after feeling like a disappointment to all who were around her, she was declared to be a blessing. Elizabeth’s blessing of Mary highlights the importance of faith and obedience in our walk with God. Mary’s willingness to accept God’s plan with faith and trust serves as an example for us to follow. Have there been times when someone made you feel good with a pleasant greeting, a smile or just a hug. Sometimes it just takes a small acknowledgement to change one’s whole day. That is what Elizabeth did for Mary. Luke tells us something else also happened at the sound of Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. This means that the words Elizabeth spoke next came from God. Elizabeth’s words were prophecy as she spoke forth a word from God by the Holy Spirit. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
And then Mary speaks of a compassionate God, a God who cares for the despairing and downtrodden, a God faithful to the hurting and heartbroken, a God who will turn the world around for mercy, peace, and justice. Mary speaks of what God has already done. So, we can sing with Mary of what God has accomplished, our spirits rejoicing as the world is made new. As we are dramatically called to notice something BIG that God is doing; and this something BIG involves turning things upside down: raising up the lowly, bringing down the insincere great ones of the earth, and creating a whole new world. Because nothing will be impossible with God. For our God is a mighty God who does mighty things for ordinary people. And although you find this truth throughout the pages of Scripture, one of the most prominent places is right here in this passage. Mary’s song is a song of praise to the Lord who has done great things for her, a simple, common young woman who simply trusted in the Lord. And He will do great things for you also if you just trust the Lord.
Let us Pray: Lord – may this Christmas season be for us and for those around us a season of healing, may it be a season of hope, peace, love and joy, may it be a time of true sharing and of rejoicing in all the earth. This we pray in your name. Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 