Mary and Elizabeth
The story of Elizabeth and Mary's pregnancies is a beautiful account of God's divine plan unfolding, joining two miraculous births that would forever change history.
It begins with Elizabeth, an elderly woman, and her husband Zechariah, a priest. They were righteous people but had longed for a child their whole lives without success. One day, while Zechariah was serving in the Temple, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him, announcing that Elizabeth would bear a son, who was to be named John and would prepare the way for the Lord. Zechariah, in his old age, doubted the angel's words and, as a sign, was made unable to speak until John's birth. Elizabeth, despite her advanced years, miraculously conceived, and she rejoiced.
Six months into Elizabeth's pregnancy, the same Angel Gabriel was sent by God to a young girl named Mary, who lived in Nazareth and was betrothed to Joseph. This is known as the Annunciation. Gabriel greeted Mary, telling her she was "highly favored (Hail)" and that the Lord was with her. He then announced that she would conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, who would be called Jesus, the Son of God, and would reign forever. Mary, puzzled by how this could happen, humbly asked, "How will this be, since I am with no man?" The angel explained the power of the Holy Spirit and offered Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy as a sign that "nothing will be impossible with God." Mary, with incredible faith and obedience, responded with her fiat (yes), saying, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." This "yes" to God's plan set in motion the Incarnation, God becoming man.
Shortly after the Annunciation, Mary embarked on a journey to visit her relative Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. This is called the Visitation. As Mary greeted Elizabeth, the moment was filled with God’s presence: Elizabeth's baby, John, leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth immediately knew that Mary was carrying the Lord, exclaiming, "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?" Mary, in turn, burst into a beautiful song of praise known as the Magnificat, glorifying God for His mighty acts and His faithfulness to His promises. The two women, both bearing miraculous pregnancies through God's power, shared a profound moment of joy, understanding, and divine connection, highlighting the wondrous start of God's ultimate plan of salvation.
Here's the text from Luke 1:26-56: The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Reflection Questions
When the angel Gabriel first greeted Mary, how did she react to his words, and what did the angel tell her not to be?
After the angel explained how she would conceive a son, what was Mary's response to the angel, showing her acceptance of God's word?
What happened when Mary greeted Elizabeth upon her arrival, and what did Elizabeth exclaim in a loud voice about Mary?
In Mary's song, the Magnificat, what are two things she says God has done for His people or for those who fear Him?
Multiple Choice Questions
Where did the angel Gabriel first visit Mary to announce her pregnancy?
a) Bethlehem
b) Jerusalem
c) Nazareth
d) Judea
What name was Mary told to give to her son?
a) John
b) David
c) Joseph
d) Jesus
What sign did the angel Gabriel give Mary to show that "no word from God will ever fail"?
a) That she would also become unable to speak.
b) That Elizabeth, her relative, was also pregnant in her old age.
c) That a star would appear in the sky.
d) That she would immediately travel to Jerusalem.
When Mary greeted Elizabeth, what happened with the baby inside Elizabeth's womb?
a) The baby cried loudly.
b) The baby leaped for joy.
c) The baby fell asleep.
d) The baby started singing.
In Mary's song (the Magnificat), she says that God has done what for the humble?
a) Scattered them.
b) Sent them away empty.
c) Lifted them up.
d) Brought them down from thrones.