Daily Scripture:

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

46 And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. (Luke 1:39-49)

Daily Reflection:

Today we celebrate the pregnant Mary’s visit to her equally expecting relative Elizabeth, an important event in the life of the as yet unborn Jesus. Elizabeth’s exclamation “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, forms the second line of the Hail Mary, and Mary’s answer is the Magnificat, Mary’s prophetic song of praise. These important prayers have been preserved down all generations, repeated by millions of Christians the world over every day.

Attitudes to Mary are often misunderstood, both by some Christians and those of other faiths, or none. We do not worship Mary, as she is not God, but rather we venerate her; as Our Lord’s mother and as a perfect example of a human in right relationship to God. We want to emulate her, and as she is very close to Jesus, we might ask her to intercede on our behalf. “Hail Mary, full of grace…”

Revd Ylva