Lifted Up the Lowly

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."

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Luke 1:39-57

The Visitation

Sometimes we need our mothers badly

other times we need to get away to those

who can see us completely at a distance

who can encourage the goodness within

not worrying about what people think.

What we see in our small rooms and mirrors

limits our understanding of grace and blessing

to sing the song of thanksgiving takes a journey

of heart and mind and soul broken open

to love and discovery so strange, so mysterious.

The sight which we gain in our leaving

makes our returning lighter in step and speed

we found our voice and our song in weakness

strength came in our vulnerable hours alone

the dance overtook us when we weren't looking.

Hear the drum beat and the singing now

even when it is so far off it will remind you

the blessings that we are within and without

the humble strong and sweet beyond measure

and the least becoming divine adored children forever.