Week Two: The Visitation

Verses to memorize

1) Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb (Elizabeth: Luke 1:42)
2) My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Mary: Luke 1:46)

Passage

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home. Luke 1:39-56

Questions

1) In this story who does Mary travel to visit? A: Elizabeth and Zechariah Q: Who are they? A: Mary’s relative and her husband, who are also expecting a baby. Q: Where do they live? A: In the hills of Judea, west of Jerusalem. Q: From what town did Mary set out? A: From Nazareth in Galilee, in the north of Israel. This would have been a long journey (90 miles), perhaps three days in a donkey caravan.

2) What does Elizabeth say when she hears Mary’s greeting? A: “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Q: How does Elizabeth know that Mary is pregnant with “the mother of my Lord”? A: She is “filled with the Holy Spirit”, that is, the Holy Spirit has revealed it to her.

3) What prayer do we have that quotes the words of the angel Gabriel and then quotes the words of Elizabeth? A: The Hail Mary.

4) Who is the baby that leaps in Elizabeth’s womb? A: John the Baptist.

5) Elizabeth declares Mary to be “blessed” in several ways. Q: How does Mary respond to this praise? A: With a beautiful prayer which we call “The Magnificat”.

6) In the Magnificat, Mary does two things. First, she praises God for what He has done for her. And second, she describes who God is and how He acts. Q: In the first part, how does she regard herself? A: As a “lowly servant”. Q: Also in the first part, what surprising prophecy does she make about herself? A: From now on all generations shall call her blessed.

7) In the second part, how does she summarize God’s actions? A: He is merciful and strong. He brings down the proud, the powerful, and the rich and lifts up the poor, the lowly, and the hungry. He keeps His promises. Q: What is mercy? Q: Are you merciful? Do you keep your promises?

Video

Courtesy of The Bible Project