Elizabeth exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear."
- Luke 1:39-45 (42)
The angel's invitation to Mary to become the mother of the Son of God
was a crucial event. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could conceive,
the messenger's response was direct: "The Holy Spirit will come upon
you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." and the Holy
Spirit surrounded her, supporting her through the nine months. Yet the
Spirit filled her with joy, peace patience, and love. During this time
she went to visit her aged cousin outside Jerusalem. Somehow she had to
carry the Spirit within her to the forerunner who was to introduce her
son to the world.
It was at this time the child Elizabeth was carrying leapt in her womb.
and proclaimed . . .
Elizabeth exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear."
- Luke 1:39-45 (42)
The angel's invitation to Mary to become the mother of the Son of God was a crucial event. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could conceive, the messenger's response was direct: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." and the Holy Spirit surrounded her, supporting her through the nine months. Yet the Spirit filled her with joy, peace patience, and love. During this time she went to visit her aged cousin outside Jerusalem. Somehow she had to carry the Spirit within her to the forerunner who was to introduce her son to the world.
It was at this time the child Elizabeth was carrying leapt in her womb. and proclaimed to Mary she was blessed indeed. Mary must have been puzzled intensely about the events swirling in her life as they did not make sense, but she must have had an openness and trust that pulled her forward.
Let us recapture that joyous excitement by refocusing our attention on the event we celebrate rather than on the celebration of the event. It is Jesus' birth are honoring, and that always makes for a good Christmas.
Beyond all else the day should be
A day of holiest memory
When all the world should joyfully
See Christ, the LORD, in Christmas.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - The most important part about Christmas is the first six letters.