Session 3: Joy Leaps Within

Step 1: Short Stillness


Step into this place of encounter … into the depths of your being, the place where God waits for you …Let yourself be expectant, open to surprise…

Step 2: Scripture

A reading from the Gospel of Luke…

Luke 1:39-56

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 leapt 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 leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour 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 for ever.’

And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

First: As we begin, bring to mind the three persons of the Trinity, looking on our world with love, seeing its beauty and brokenness. We remember that out of love for us, the Second person becomes human..

Second: Imagine two mothers, one older, one younger … each carrying their unborn child, meeting together … bearers of God’s unfolding promise that grows within them … felt and yet unseen …

Third: As you contemplate the encounter of these two mothers-to-be, notice what your heart wants … to share their joy … to hear a song that brings hope to the poor… to feel life … What do you want from God right now? Just ask God for it…

In a house, Elizabeth sits, heavily pregnant, rubbing her back … standing at the doorway, Mary, her pregnancy barely showing, calls a greeting. As you watch …an embrace … hands move swiftly to rest on a swollen belly … eyes alight with joy… the Spirit fills …

Hear Elizabeth’s words … you are blessed … I am favoured …

A meeting of hearts … an unborn child kicks tiny feet … hope becoming fleshed in the everyday … Mary and Elizabeth preparing together … awaiting the pain and the delight of new life.

Notice how joy and hope are given birth today… How the promise is fulfilled in your life…

Fourth: In your prayer, you might speak with Mary or Elizabeth or whichever person of the Trinity you feel most comfortable… about life within you… about hope that is being fashioned in secret … the promise God fulfils in you …

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Root of Jesse
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus

Veronica Smith