A very special commemoration slipped by yesterday with not much notice. May 31st is the day we remember The Visitation. The day Mary, pregnant with Jesus visits her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John… later known as John the Baptist. It’s more than just two women getting together to chat and visit. Here’s what happened from the Gospel of Luke from the Message translation:

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly, You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed!"

Then Mary responded with what is known as the Magnificat:

"And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now."

Elizabeth was the first to recognize the great thing God was doing with Mary. And Mary responds in praising God for all God has done for centuries. Hmmm… does that sound at all familiar? We do it every Sunday here at Peace! We proclaim all the good God has done and then in response praise God!

See you Sunday!