The picture above shows one of several stations which together tell the story of the life of Jesus.  They are located along a walking trail at a monastery where I stayed in Italy.  It is located high upon a mountain overlooking the city of Rapallo.  The following art is done in relief on the station depicting Mary’s visit to Elizabeth….

When the angel told Mary that by the power of the Holy Spirit she will have the baby named Jesus, God’s Holy child, the Angel also told her that her relative Elizabeth is pregnant and 6 months along.  Mary runs all the way to another town to see Elizabeth.  In the picture you see the moment they meet and hug each other.  The bird you see is a dove which is a symbol representing the Holy Spirit.  It means that God is present and working miracles in the lives of both Mary and Elizabeth.

Wow!  Look at the miracle!  If we didn’t get it before, we sure do now! This painting of Elizabeth is by Phil Boatwright and is found in the book “The Indescribable Gift”.  Elizabeth has wanted a baby for a LONG time, and now it is happening!  But she is very old.  When Mary sees her and calls her name, the baby inside her “leaps for joy”.  Now that would have been a jolt for anyone, but especially for someone as old as Elizabeth.  What a miracle!

Mary needed to be with Elizabeth.  She needed someone who understood.  Everyone else in the community did not understand at all.  Even though Mary felt she was especially chosen by God, she must have been scared about the future.

I remember one Sunday during Advent in worship a very young girl stood up to sing.  She was the voice of Mary and her words were from a song by Ken Medema.  She sang in her beautiful clear young voice, “I’ll go tell Elizabeth….she’ll understand….she’ll hold my hand.”  I have never forgotten that moment.  What the young girl Mary felt became so real for me.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months.  God gave Mary and Elizabeth a special friendship which they both needed, and God worked a miracle in both their lives.  You and I are in this story.  God gives us special friends who truly know us deeply and understand. And God continues to work miracles!

Questions to think about….

When you need someone, who are the friends you would run to who know you deeply and understand?

Has there been a miracle in your life, or the life of someone you know?

nk