Today I want to briefly talk about the alternate Gospel Reading (Luke 1:39-47).
Until recently I had never really thought about why Mary left in haste to see Elizabeth. I had come of with several reasons, but it had never occurred to me that she was running to Elizabeth for fear of her life! Saying "yes" to God put Mary's earthly life in physical danger.
We learn so much about Mary in so few verses of scripture. In the scene prior to this one, the angel Gabriel calls Mary the favored one. In our reading today, Elizabeth calls Mary "most blessed" and calls her baby "blessed" as well.
When Mary arrives at her cousin's, Elizabeth calls Mary "the mother of my Lord" before Mary even tells her the story of what has happened. She even feels her baby (John the Baptist), leap in her womb at the very sound of Mary's voice!
Mary was handpicked and chosen for the special task. She was favored and blessed, but she still had to say yes!
Mary shows such incredible faith, hope and love for our God that she put her own feelings of comfort and safety aside. She does one of the most selfless things we see from someone other than Jesus in scripture, all the while proclaiming God's greatness. She didn't look at this as an opportunity to become great. She didn't see it as becoming the mother of the Savior of the world or the Messiah, she was simply being truly humble and obedient.
I pray for a heart like Mary's! I pray for a spirit of humility and obedience like the one she displays. I pray for the faith, hope, love and courage to say yes when I am called upon.
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior." Luke 1:47
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