June 1

"God has brought down rulers from their thrones and lifted up the humble. God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty." Luke 1:52-53

Today dawned cool and beautiful. Today we celebrate the feast of the Visitation. We seem to be visited by a bountiful, beautiful spirit today, one that provides cool, warmth and growth for us all. A new work week, a new month, the beginning of some drastic changes in our lives. As I do most mornings, I drove Mark to the train, and watched as he climbed the rickety wooden steps up to the train platform. Once he is there, and a train is loading, I usually open the car's sun roof and wave to him until he is on the train. Probably some people think that is way over the top. But for me, every day is a journey and we never know how many days we have. I want him to know that he is supported and cared for from the beginning to the end of the journey. When my children were in school and they would let me drop them off, I would do much the same thing. They were so embarrassed, I know, and yet they never needed to question my love for them. When loves around I can help but wave and sing out.

We find Mary as she is beginning a journey that changes everything - for her and the world. God's spirit visited her, she had been chosen to carry the God child, the Creator's offspring, the Holy One. She runs to Elizabeth because she is probably the one person who understand this crazy and impossible journey Mary is on. She runs to Elizabeth, her cousin, aged and pregnant. Elizabeth, radiant with her impossible pregnancy say, 'blessed is she who believes what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.' And Mary can't help herself, she cries and waves and sings. Elizabeth acknowledges her profound journey and she just can't help it if love spills out. Mary sings of God, God's justice and care for the lowliest of lowly. Being inhabited by God, she must sing of the goodness and mercy of God who chooses her, a nobody, to carry Christ into the world. God chooses the most unlikely to be inhabited by God.

I pray that today, I can recognize God's love inhabiting the most unlikely. It is easy to be won by wealth and beauty. Harder to see in the poor and the unwashed. And yet Mary's song is our song. We have God's love and we know we are not the victorious people, the beautiful people, the charming princes and princess of the world. And yet, God inhabits us, and all the humble who are willing to know love. And God promises to dwell with us, growing us so that folks around us might see the love of God inhabiting our lives. May we be blessed today to shine our lights. May we be radiant with God's love, no matter how meek or challenging our circumstances. May God inhabit us so today that we can't help but sing.