Blessed
Sometimes you just need to get away.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. - Luke 1:39-48a(48b-56)
Mary went to be with her relatives just about the time her pregnancy was about to start showing. That was probably a smart move.
Why subject yourself to ridicule and maybe even danger by staying around where everyone knows you are not married?
So, she goes to Elizabeth and stays with her through the final weeks of Elizabeth's term, helping the older cousin possibly as a midwife.
By now, Mary has had some time to think about what was happening to her, and so she tells Elizabeth how she has come to accept and prepare herself for what role God has given her.
God has managed to instill in her an understanding of how she will be perceived, not in her own time, but generations hence, in our time.
While her own people would seek to accuse her of adultery, we see her as blessed.
Knowing that she knows that is helpful for us, for when we face periods of trial, we need to know that people may not understand but God does.
And maybe, eventually, we too may be called blessed.
More to come...