Finally Mary makes her way to Elizabeth! She calls out to her relative, “Elizabeth, it’s me, Mary!” And Elizabeth’s response: well, the baby she’s carrying, John, leapt in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember in the days of the Old Testament, only prophets and a few kings were filled with the Spirit. Elizabeth suddenly becomes a prophet saying, blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear.. Think of it, Mary is virtually silent for 10 days or more. I cannot imagine this moment… finally Mary is able to abandon the fear and give way to the joy; there is someone who understands and rejoices with her!
It is with this kind of Joy that we light the Advent Candle of Joy today. Look how quickly Mary is touched by Elizabeth’s words. Isn’t that how joy works. It comes when you are most weary and least expects it! But it’s best when it is on both sides. Let me remind you, the angel visits Mary, however, no where does it tell us that Elizabeth knew Mary was coming; so that when Elizabeth hears Mary’s voice for the first time and that baby leaps, no one is more surprised by joy than Elizabeth! What Mary needed most was someone to believe her. She found that person in Elizabeth. Moreover Elizabeth encouraged and supported Mary! Elizabeth used the term “Blessed” three times to describe Mary and the child she would have from verse 42-45. You are blessed among all women and your child is blessed. Mary, don’t you see it? You are really blessed! What does it mean to be blessed? Oh, we Christians use that word freely don’t we? Most of the time our blessings don’t feel like blessings at all. In fact, I have been asked more than once in ministry why can’t I be blessed. Somehow we have associated blessed with comfort and favor, even financial gain!
But none of these things describe Mary. For Mary, blessedness comes with the reality that she is a major part of God’s plan of salvation. Still in that blessing, Mary will be questioned, people will talk or at lease whisper. People will judge. William Barclay the great Biblical commentator calls it the Paradox of Blessedness. He says: The piercing truth is that God does not choose a person for ease and comfort and selfish joy but for a task that will take all that head and heart and hand can bring to it.
Think of Jesus’ words in Luke, chapter 6 Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor. Blessed are those who are hungry now. Blessed are those who weep now. Blessed are you when people revile you and say bad things about your and hurt you. Blessed are you, because great is your reward in the kingdom of heaven. Friends, the truth is that even when a blessing does not feel like one, if you are in relationship with God you are in the midst of a blessing. You know the term and have likely used it, “Blessing in disguise”. Friends don’t go wimpy or limp when adversity comes. God is doing something. Will you say, God is blessing me even if I don’t’ know how? And can you seek or at least watch for the one or the ones who will bring the message of blessing like Elizabeth brought to Mary?
What a joy to have someone who shows us goodness in what seems dark. That was Elizabeth with Mary. In Ein Karem there is The Church of Visitation. This is the location named for Elizabeth and Mary’s meeting. And in the church there is a memorial statue of the two women meeting. 
Friends, I want you to stop and think of two or three people like this. People who are mentors: who are wise; who are ready to give you a good word amidst a crazy or stormy or dark time in your life. Who is that Elizabeth in your life…male or female? Do you have them in your mind? Now I want you to take a moment to bless them by praying for them. By putting their name on your study guide notes and thank God for them. I just wonder how many times Mary thanked God for Elizabeth in her life. Now, just as importantly, I want you to think of who is the Mary in your life? Who is the one who comes to you in those moments of fear; in those overwhelming moments; in those times when life is dark for them? Now I want you to pray that you will be able to take the time to be a better Elizabeth to those who need you most! Can you trust God as Mary did to bring you an Elizabeth? Can you trust God enough to be an Elizabeth to a Mary?
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