womb leaped with
joy. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She
knew that the Child in Mary's womb was the Messiah and shouted with
joy, “Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk
1:43). “Mary remained with her about three months ...” (v 56). We can imagine, with how much
love Elizabeth would have entertained her! Those three months enabled Mary to be strengthened in the
spirit and to get prepared for the following days.
When a son was born to Zacharias and Elizabeth, they unanimously named him 'John' as the Lord had already
informed them. Oneness of mind is a bridge for family unity. “Be kind to one another and tenderhearted...” (Eph 4:32).
Some people may look pious. But they will be zero in hospitality. Suppose you are not in talking terms with any of your
relatives, during the celebration of the Birthday of “the Prince of Peace”, take the first step for reconciliation. Send a greeting
card and share some eatables. Let us learn from Elizabeth to strengthen our relationships!
“... on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lk 2:14).
6. Mary the woman of the Word of God
“Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women” (Lk 1:28). Why did the angel
Gabriel greet Mary like this? Mary, born of a poor family, had her heart filled with God's Word.
When the angel said to her, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call His name
Jesus”, her humble reply was, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (vv 31,38). She
never bothered what Joseph to whom she was betrothed would think of her or what a reproach and shame she must endure. She
accepted God's Word as it was.
She was delighted that the Messiah whom the Israelites were expecting, would be born in her womb. She sang, “He has
regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (v 48). In her entire
song, she quoted so much from the Old Testament and praised God (vv 46-55).
When the shepherds propagated the sayings of the angel about the child Jesus, “Mary kept all these things and pondered
them in her heart” (2:19). She meditated that the Messiah mentioned in the Scripture was Jesus.
Not only that, Mary and Joseph as it was written in the law of the Lord, when the days of purification were completed,
went to the temple in Jerusalem, presented the firstborn male child Jesus to the Lord and offered the sacrifice of “a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons” (vv 23,24). Meticulous in obeying the Word of the Lord!
The Psalmist says, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart ...” (119:11). Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the Word of Christ live
in you richly...”
Have we filled our hearts with the Scripture? God's Word will sanctify us (Jn 17:17); the meditation of God's Word will
spare us from today's deceptive preachers. Do we take any effort to teach our children to learn the Bible verses? How we
encourage them in their academic studies! How many tuitions! No point lamenting when they grow up. As Mary had planted
the Scripture in the heart of the little Child Jesus, let us also plant them deep in the hearts of our children.
While celebrating Christmas the time when “the Word” became flesh (Jn 1:14), shall we dedicate ourselves, to read, love
, teach and obey the Word of God?
Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep My word” (Jn 14:23).
7. Anna the Evangelist
Usually only small children eagerly wait for Christmas. In Luke 2:36,37, the senior citizen Anna, about eighty four years
old, waited for the birth of the Messiah. She was a prophetess and a widow, “who did not depart from the temple, but served
God with fasting and prayers night and day” (v 37).
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