What in the world does God want to you to give birth to? This is a play on words, of course. Not all of us have or will give birth physically, but all of us—women, men, boys and girls—are called to move out into the world to give birth and nurture new life. Elizabeth’s words, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” inspire us to believe that we, too, are blessed to believe that labor for life might begin.
Elizabeth and Mary were surprised by the Holy Spirit. They had no idea what was beginning in and through them. Mary’s words, the Magnificat, have been part of the church’s worship throughout the ages and encompass what Christ’s incarnation would mean for the world.
Imagine the Holy Spirit at work in and through you. Really—pause right now and imagine. And then imagine (envision) what God is calling you – as a group of women, sisters together, as a congregation, as a church body—to give birth to in the world.
This message is excerpted from the Bible study “Mary and Elizabeth” by Norma Cook Everist in the May 2016 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate the Visit of Mary to Elizabeth.
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