Mary Visits Elizabeth
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!”
The feeling of the Holy Spirit changes Elizabeth – quickly – and thoroughly, even bringing changes to the movements of her unborn child. What a great reminder of what is possible when we make room for the Holy Spirit. All of us can make room to allow the Holy Spirit to enter us this season – and to allow for wonder just as Elizabeth did. Elizabeth asked the questions and we can too. Why me? Why now? How is this even possible?
-Kathryn Wesley
Éric de Saussure, Stained Glass Window for the Taize Monastic Community’s Church of Reconciliation, Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France
Grace and Peace,
As we enter the Advent season, we begin our wait for the coming Messiah. This year’s devotional offers a daily passage of scripture and a reflection written by a member of our congregation. I am so grateful to all those who contributed and worked on this project. It is our intention that these daily devotionals become a way to connect with our church and our Creator in meaningful ways.
I hope this devotional book becomes a part of your daily Advent celebration and study. While Advent is a time of waiting and preparation, it is also a time of change and beginning of something new. God turned the world upside down when God sent Christ into the world. So we encourage you to think of Advent as a time of comfort and joy but also a chance to see the world and God’s word anew as we wait on Emmanuel – God with us.
Robert Galloway
Associate Pastor for Christian Formation