things for me, Holy is his Name!From age to age, his mercy extends to those who live in his presence.He  has  acted  with  power  and  done  wonders,  and scattered the proud with their plans.He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up those who are downtrodden.He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.He  held  out  his  hand  to  Israel,  his  servant,  for  he remembered  his  mercy,  even  as  he  promised  to  our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.

Reflections

“You are most blessed among women.”In most of my adult life, I have not paid much attention to Mary and her important role in the history of salvation. However, it dawned on me that without her “yes” to the announcement of the angel Gabriel, God’s saving plan would have been frustrated.What made her “most blessed among women”? What is truly special about her?Three reasons come to mind why Elizabeth rightly declared her as the most blessed among women and why people of every generation would call her bles­ sed: first, God himself chose her; second, she said “yes” to the an­ nouncement of the angel Gabriel. The third, I want to give empha­ sis: she carried the Son of God in her womb for nine months; she brought Jesus to human life; she nursed him in infancy; she played with him when he was a boy; she cared for him as he grows; she was a witness as to how he con­ ducted his ministry; and, she was there when he suffered and died on the cross. Imagine the interac­ tion between the mother and the Son of God! Imagine also the inti­ macy between them!This is why I believe that the risen Christ appeared to Mary before he ascended back to the Father.© Copyright Bible Diary 2019