And Mary Said

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 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." Luke 1:39-55

And Mary Said

Overwhelmed and frightened
sent far away to relatives
upheaval in body and soul
running to Elizabeth's arms
and Mary still said yes.


Two women locked in each others arms
one too old and one too young
and Mary still said yes.


A family fearful of rejection
a fiance shaken by visitations
angels or not this is hard
working at his carpenters bench
Joseph still said yes.

Two women locked in each others arms
one too old and one too young
and Mary still said yes.

A babe danced within when drawing near
the voice of God resounding
without and within for John and for Jesus
bound by water and spirit they heard
their frightened mothers
say yes out loud to God.

Two women locked in each others arms
one too old and one too young
and Mary still said yes.

And so we who live in anxious days
who wonder what we can do
who trembling wake to face the day
and cautiously step out
may we join the women who for us
said a loud yes to God.

Two women locked in each others arms
one too old and one too young
and Mary still said yes.




The Collect

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.