An Advent Reflection by The Venerable Penny Sayer, Archdeacon of Sherborne.
Read
Luke 1:39-45 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Reflect
I am repeatedly struck by just how brave Mary is in saying ‘yes’ to the angel Gabriel. Her pregnancy, in very odd circumstances, would have given much cause for gossip in her close knit community. Here we see an elder cousin, with her own miraculous pregnancy, giving comfort and support to Mary. This trip would have been a time of rest, a time to be nurtured, and a time to take stock.
Pray
Thank you for these two women, one in youth and the other in old age who were faithful in serving you and your Kingdom. May we, also, be faithful servants, following our Lord Jesus Christ and building his kingdom.
Act
Is there anyone who could do with your support right now: at a difficult time, or in a difficult place? How can you speak into or act practically to bring help to their situation?
-The Venerable Penny Sayer, Archdeacon of Sherborne.
You can read all of the Advent Reflections via the following link – Advent Reflections 2019.