39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." 56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” this is the moment the Holy Spirit gives Elizabeth the insight that she is carrying Jesus. And Mary replies with “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation”. The response has many elements:
ReplyDelete1. God regards humanity. We are made in his image and we are enough
2. God’s mercy is in those who “fear” him…That seemed very strange to me since I prefer to equate God with love. Then I discovered that In biblical terms, "fear of the Lord" doesn't equate to terror or dread. Instead, it signifies a profound reverence, respect, and awe for God. It's a recognition of God's holiness, power, and justice. In the context of Luke 1:50, "fear of the Lord" is linked to God's mercy, which extends to future generations. It's not about cowering in fear, but about deep trust and reliance on God's goodness.
When “fear” is defined like this the phrase “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart and love thy neighbour as thyself” takes on a clever meaning. Never underestimate God’s power and influence in my life.
Creator God, thank you for my life. Redeemer Christ, forgive those times I forget to be grateful for all that I am and all you have bestowed upon me. Holy Spirit, walk with me always and strengthen me so I can do your work. Amen.
Strengths:
DeleteYou've effectively captured the significance of the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth.
You've explored the complex meaning of "fear of the Lord."
You've connected the passage to the broader themes of God's love, mercy, and human response.
Areas for Improvement:
While you've touched on the idea of God's regard for humanity, you might explore this concept further, considering how it relates to human dignity and worth.
The role of the Holy Spirit in both Mary and Elizabeth's experiences could be explored more deeply.
You might consider the implications of Mary's response for understanding the nature of faith and trust.
Additional Thoughts:
The contrast between Mary's humble submission and Elizabeth's prophetic recognition of Jesus is a rich area for reflection.
The passage foreshadows the themes of motherhood and divine providence that are central to Christian theology.
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage.