Blessed are You who Believed

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

Lk 1:39-45

There are a lot of incredible elements at play in the encounter of the Visitation. Two miraculous conceptions announced by an angel, a sinless virgin mother, the New Elijah, God Himself become man. Yet, in greeting Mary, Elizabeth's highest expression of praise for her cousin is simple, tangible: "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Indeed, it's the same praise Jesus himself will bestow upon his mother years later. "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it," (Lk 11:28).

We don't need to see angels, or be sinless, or even to experience any sort of profound encounter with God to do exactly as Mary did. Do I too believe that what was spoken to Mary by the Lord was fulfilled? Do I believe that God really did humble himself to enter her womb and take on human flesh? Do I believe that God no longer dwells apart from humanity but instead is truly "God with us?"

What was spoken to Mary by the Lord that day in Nazareth was fulfilled. Blessed are we who believe that!

Lord, I do believe!