Advent Passage: Luke 1:39-45       

How do you respond when you hear really good news, the kind of good that only God can deliver?

I get overwhelmed and hide.

The moment I learned I was finally pregnant after years of bad news, I immediately went to bed and pulled the covers over my head. The day I decided to go to seminary, I climbed into my bathtub and stayed there with my head just above the waterline until the chill forced me out.

Not Mary.

As soon as Gabriel left her, Mary “got ready and hurried” to visit Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-40). She moved without hesitation to confirm the sign Gabriel promised (1:36). Sure enough, as soon as Mary arrived, she greeted a very pregnant Elizabeth.

In response, Elizabeth’s baby leapt in her womb as she was filled with the Holy Spirit and pronounced a blessing on Mary (1:41-45). You see, the baby Elizabeth carried was John. He would precede Jesus in ministry to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah by turning their hearts back to the Lord (1:13-17). John’s ministry would break over 400 years of silence since Israel’s last prophet. This was good news!

Elizabeth’s blessing prompted Mary’s Song that we are studying this Advent. Instead of hiding, Mary celebrated and sang with the person whose pregnancy God gave her as a sign. She shared her very good news!

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three more months, so these ladies celebrated together for the remainder of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. This, my friends, exemplifies the joy of Christian community.

The warmth of joy and friendship is much better than an icy bath. When we praise the Lord together, the Holy Spirit fills us, we bless one another, and we behold the signs of God at work.

This Christmas, let’s not hide. Instead, let’s follow Mary’s example and hurry toward one another to share and celebrate the good news of Jesus’ birth!

© 2025 Lori Myers Berry