Advent Challenge Day 24
Do You Believe?
Read Together
Luke 1:39-45 & Acts 1:13-14, 2:1-6 & Ephesians 1:13-14
Light four candles and say together
Come, O Radiant Dawn.*
Reflection
This account of Mary and Elizabeth is just so lovely. Here are two women united both by familial ties and the experience of a miraculous pregnancy, coming together to witness the wonders of the works of God.
Mary rushed off to visit Elizabeth soon after hearing about Elizabeth’s marvelous news from the angel who was announcing the miracle Mary herself would experience. This visit was very likely a blessing for Elizabeth since she was well up in years and in the later stages of her pregnancy. By journeying with her relative in this way, Mary would be able to experience pregnancy from her cousin’s perspective before she herself would experience it. But perhaps even more meaningful to Mary, Elizabeth would have been the only person who could have related to the earth-shattering miracle Mary was experiencing. Mary and Elizabeth needed each other.
As Mary moves from her home to Elizabeth's, she also carries the Presence of God within her. And her dear relative Elizabeth is the first person that we can read about outside of Mary herself who is able to immediately recognize the work God is doing in her. When Zechariah heard the news about the coming Saviour, he was bewildered and was rendered speechless. Mary's espoused husband, Joseph, was looking for the kindest way to back out of their arrangement. Each of these men applied their own understanding to the miracle they were faced with. But Elizabeth, having already experienced the Lord's faithfulness and miraculous power in her own life, had no misgivings about noticing what God was doing in the life of her young cousin.
Like Mary drawing near to Elizabeth’s home, Christmas is drawing near to us, and so too is Christ's presence. He is always drawing near to us, but we are reminded in Advent to notice it.
Nobody knew Christ's nearness quite like Mary did. She bore Jesus who was God living within her. But we see a similar thing happen in an upper room that Mary herself would find herself in years later. At Pentecost, God’s Spirit was given to each believer of Christ. Blessed is the one who believed. God, within us. And from that, something new was born: The Church.
Mary believed, and she carried God's presence into the world. Her belief led to the birth of God-in-flesh so that He could be known in a new, personal way. When we believe, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and are invited to carry God into our world, helping others experience His presence. Our belief has the potential to birth new life as well.
Elizabeth’s discernment of God’s movements allows her to bless Mary. "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” (Like 1:45) But that blessing is a truth that extends beyond Mary to cover Elizabeth herself who believed the Promise held within the womb of the woman standing in front of her. And that blessing covers us also when we are willing to look for God at work rather than grasping for the most logical explanation that fits our limited understanding. Look for God, find His presence, believe it, and share it.
Talk About
- Where have you recently experienced God at work in your life or the life of someone you know?
- How can you shine forth with Christ's light in your world this week? How can you help others experience God's presence?
Pray Together
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.*
Amen.
Put it in Action
Give someone the gift of your presence today and experience the blessing of theirs. Take a moment to speak light and kindness into their life.
* During the final days of Advent, we will pray seven ancient prayers based on biblical prophesies about Jesus called the O Antiphons. Each prayer begins by addressing Jesus with one of the titles used for Him in Scripture.