An Advent story about Mary's visit with her cousin Elizabeth
(From the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verses 39-55)
After the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of God's Son Jesus, she decided to go visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth, you may remember, was also going to have a baby – Jesus' cousin, John. Mary walked as quickly as she could to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah. "I can hardly wait to share my good news with Elizabeth!" she told herself and God.
It took her a while because she had to keep stopping to rest, but finally Mary got to her cousin's home. Without even knocking, she walked in the door and called out, "Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth was lying down in the back bedroom. When she heard Mary's greeting, she felt the baby inside her belly do a somersault! As she grabbed her swollen belly, God's Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she knew right away why Mary had come to see her.
"Cousin!" Elizabeth called, as she got up from the bed. She came to Mary and threw her arms around her, laughing and crying at the same time. "Blessed are you, Mary, and blessed is the baby growing inside you!"
"How did you know I am going to have a baby?" Mary asked her, stepping back from Elizabeth in amazement. "Who told you my good news?"
Elizabeth laughed. "My own baby did! He is jumping for joy inside me!"
The two women hugged again. Elizabeth told her cousin, "It is so good that you have always believed everything that God has told you, Mary."
Mary took her cousin by the hand and danced around. "I am bursting with God-news! I am dancing the song of God! God took one look at me and look what happened – I am the most fortunate woman on earth! God has done something for me that will never be forgotten. God has piled blessing after blessing on God's people for so many years – and now God's love has come to me—and to you, too, Elizabeth!"
Questions to think and pray about:
I wonder if you have a cousin.
I wonder if you have done fun things together with your cousin.
I wonder what it feels like to have the Holy Spirit fill you up.