THE SET UP
When Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, that has to be one of the most unusual gatherings of all time. First, you have Elizabeth, a woman too old to have children, pregnant with a son who would one day introduce the Messiah to the world, and Mary, a virgin, who is pregnant with the Messiah, a baby who would, “take away the sins of the world.” A major theme of the gospel of Luke is that Jesus’ sacrifice and His kingdom is for everyone. Here, we see two women that would not have had status or power in their world playing vital roles in the story of Jesus. There may be times you feel inadequate or unheard because of your social status, your sex, your race, or some other factor, but the Gospel reminds us that we are all equal and uniquely created by God. We learn that from the teaching of Jesus and it is baked into His own story.
PASSAGE TO READ
Luke 1:39-56 (Page 614 in our house bibles)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Is there a line or thought in Mary’s song that sticks out to you? Why?
How does the birth story of Jesus give you encouragement?
Has there ever been a situation where you thought, “I am not qualified”? How does the Gospel speak to those feelings?
PRAYER IDEA
Thank God that His plan for saving and changing the world is for everyone, including you. If there are any places where you have felt unqualified or overlooked, thank Him that He wants to include you in His plans.