Mary arose and went with haste. That is how our Gospel reading begins. She had just received the announcement from the angel Gabriel: that she, though a virgin, would conceive and bear the Son of the Most High. She asked, “How can this be?” and the angel pointed her to a sign: her elderly relative Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
And so Mary goes. Not out of doubt, but in faith. In haste, with joy. Faith is never content to sit still. It moves; it acts. It runs to the Word of God, clings to His promises, and seeks out the fellowship of the faithful. And what a meeting this is! Mary, newly pregnant with the Son of God, and Elizabeth, six months along with John the Baptist.
The moment Mary enters the house and greets Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy. Already, John is doing what he was called to do: preparing the way of the Lord, pointing to Jesus even from the womb. The Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth, and she cries out with that beautiful confession we still confess today: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
This is a Spirit-filled confession of faith. Elizabeth calls Mary “blessed” not because of anything Mary had done, but because of what God had done for her and through her. Mary is blessed because she bears the promised Savior. And she is blessed even more because she believed in the Lord’s promise. That is what Elizabeth says: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
To find out more, listen to this sermon for the Visitation from St. John's Lutheran Church of Oakes, ND!
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.