I like Mary, the Mother of Jesus. I honour her and call her blessed.

Her response to receiving a promise beyond all imagination was to allow the joy within her to overflow in the beautiful prophetic poem recorded in Luke.

Once the “how” was explained to her she said simply, “Yes. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” No argument, no self-deprecating false humility, no skepticism. Just yes.

Many composers have set her words to music. Bach wrote this song (often called The Magnificat) using the phrase, Et exultant spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo  -and  my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

That same chapter records the account of her cousin Elizabeth’s miracle story of conceiving and giving birth to a huge promise as well.

It makes me wonder what Mary’s and Elizabeth’s mutual grandmother must have been like. There’s a person I can’t wait to meet.