After Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and gave her the news of her pregnancy, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The angel had told Mary that Elizabeth, in her old age, had conceived a child. She was in her sixth month of pregnancy despite having been called barren. The news of Mary's pregnancy must have been a shock for her as she was a young, unmarried woman. The news of Elizabeth’s
pregnancy, on the other hand, was, without a doubt, a joy. It was something Elizabeth and Zechariah had been wanting and asking from the Lord.
In her shock and joy, Mary travelled quickly to Judah to visit Elizabeth to share her happiness. With little preparation for the journey, did she pack all her necessities? Where did she stay during the travel? Where did she sleep? Did she have money to buy food and snacks along the way? These
are some of the essential considerations we need to make before we travel long distances.
Often, we use the phrase “God will provide”, so I want to believe that Mary knew this. We like to weigh up our options - look at the pros and cons of our actions, plan in great detail our next move. This is good and encouraged. At times, we tend to overplan, and this can hinder the start of work. Mary reminds us today that the Lord’s work
sometimes demands haste.
I invite you to find some quiet time in your day. Spend this time with the Lord, and ask him to show you areas in your life and faith where you might be challenged to be hasty.
It may be those plans you have been making for a long time to effect change in your life or introduce something different.
Speak to the Lord about these and be open
to how the Lord responds to you.
Reflections by Morongoa Selepe
