All Saints' Parish Church, Leamington Spa
  • Home
  • Worship & Music
    • Service Schedule >
      • Sermons
    • Late Worship
    • Music List
    • Choir >
      • Recordings of the Choir
      • Choral Scholarships
      • Carol Singing
    • Organ >
      • Organ Specification
      • Organ History
      • Organists
    • Music Department
  • About All Saints
    • Vision
    • History & Heritage
    • Staff
    • Nightlight
    • Bell Ringers
    • Find Us
  • Friends
  • What's On
    • Bank Holiday Organ Recitals
    • Events Photo Gallery
  • Coffee Shop
  • Get Involved
    • Making a Donation
    • Repairs
  • Contact Us
    • Prayer Requests
    • Christenings/Baptisms
    • Weddings
    • Confirmation
    • School Visits
  • Blog
    • PCC Journal
    • Annual Report

Thoughts on tomorrow's Gospel reading

22/12/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation
Tomorrow we hear the news of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1.39-45). Mary was by then expecting Jesus; Elizabeth was expecting John (the Baptist). It's a story full of excitement and hope as they look forward to the fulfilment of God's promises through their as-yet-unborn children.

For Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah, this was not merely the fulfilment of a prophecy given six months previously - although that was clearly important. It was also the gift of a child for whom they had longed throughout their adult lives and into old age. The yearning for a child had not diminished their faith in God, even though they had waited beyond the point at which childbirth seemed a possibility. And now, surprisingly, fulfilment was near.

For Mary, on the other hand, this was something very new indeed. Thought to have been only a teenager, and in scandalous circumstances, she nevertheless looked forward to the work of God through the son to be born to her. Doubtless she was encouraged and comforted by the words of her cousin: 'Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.'

In this encounter, we see God at work in God's own time - over a lifetime of faithful preparation, and in someone barely more than a child. We see the unfolding of God's promises not as we might expect or hope, but in unexpected ways and in unexpected people. And if we pause to think about it, we realise that the fulfilment of God's promises was taking place not only through the months of these two pregnancies, but over decades as John and Jesus grew to maturity and took up their vocations. 

Indeed, the fulfilment of God's promise to Mary is still being worked out centuries later, as we discover God-with-us in Jesus.

No wonder Mary responded with that great outpouring of praise we call the Magnificat:
'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.'

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    All Saints' Church, Leamington Spa
    News Blog

    Welcome to our blog - we hope you enjoy reading about what goes on at All Saints!

    Find us on facebook.
    Follow us on twitter.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    All Saints' Parish Church Leamington Priors and/or the blog authors retain copyright of all materials posted. Copying on a small scale for non-commercial purposes is permitted providing the copyright ownership is acknowledged. Please contact us for clarification or further details.
Cookies - Like most websites, our site uses cookies to help improve our visitor experience.  If you continue to use the website without changing your settings, we assume that you are happy with receiving cookies.  If not, click here for options or more information.