“Miracle mothers meet” *

When Gabriel, heaven’s messenger, answered Mary’s question about how she could be pregnant when she hadn’t been with a man, he included a telling piece of evidence: “Even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God.” (Luke 1:36-37). Mary, living with a life-changing wonder, “hurried” to visit probably the only other person who might be able to understand.

• In Luke 1:5-25 Luke told about Gabriel announcing to the aged priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth that they would be parents. It appears that God, working through Gabriel, understood how much Mary would need support for her uniquely demanding mission, and told her where she could find it. When you face challenges, large or small, what makes it important for you to know safe, godly people who will understand you, and reach out to them for care and support?
• We read about Elizabeth only in Luke’s gospel. Yet she played a vital role in the story. “Elizabeth’s central purpose in Luke’s Gospel…was she publicly declared who God was…. Elizabeth responded to the direct revelation of the Holy Spirit.”** Luke showed that Elizabeth preferred to be a private person (cf. Luke 1:24-25). But in Mary’s time of need, it was Elizabeth’s voice that gave her support and faith. How can you, whatever your temperament, uplift and bless others?

The Journey: A Season of Reflections

Today’s Insights blog was the second half of chapter 14, “Elizabeth Said to Her, ‘Blessed Are You…'” from The Journey: A Season of Reflections, by Adam Hamilton. Copyright © 2011 by Abingdon Press, and available on our website for 24 hours by permission of Abingdon Press. If you’d like to buy the entire book of reflections, you can click here for a direct link to the Cokesbury sale page, as well as other Journey resources.