"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
- Luke 1: 39 - 45

There is nothing like the news of a baby to warm the soul, and give a sense of joy and hope for the future.

Here are two ordinary women, both pregnant, both offering praise to God under two very different circumstances. Elizabeth, beyond childbearing age, six months pregnant. Mary a young unmarried teenager, unexpectantly pregnant. Both subject to social stigma. Both would struggle to explain their expectant state to society.

What was Mary thinking as she ‘hurried’ to Elizabeth. Her mind must have been racing after her encounter with Gabriel. Was she going to support Elizabeth or was she going to check that Gabriel’s message was true? Had she told Joseph about her pregnancy and angelic encounter before she left?
How would she tell the older woman about her pregnancy? How would Elizabeth react?
So many questions that we don’t know the answers to!

But look at what we do see. Elizabeth greets Mary with such love and blessing which must have been a huge relief! There were no hushed voices of shame – Elizabeth was practically shouting the Good News! The Holy Spirit was at work in Elizabeth to prepare her for this encounter. Those months of seclusion had not been wasted as Elizabeth had pondered on God’s plan.

This passage is a lovely glimpse into the private encounter of these two ordinary, but special women sharing their calling by God for their roles in His great salvation plan.

Our souls too are warmed as we see the joy and hope for the future in this story.

- Christine Fairfield