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In Elizabeth and Mary’s culture, women were second-class citizens. No male leader of her day (let alone an angel) would have greeted this woman of almost no status by saying, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." So Mary sang that God lifts up the lowly. She and Elizabeth were living examples—a childless older woman and a single teen from a backwater town, both given key roles in God’s saving plan.

• Elizabeth welcomed Mary with God-given insight, affirming and encouraging her. She knew God was at work, and that Mary’s child was uniquely wonderful. In fact, Elizabeth was, it seems, the first person to call Jesus "Lord": "Why do I have this honor, that the mother of MY LORD should come to me?" (verse 43) When has someone affirmed you by noticing God at work in your life? When have you encouraged someone else? Who can you affirm and encourage today?
• Having a boy was good news for Elizabeth and Zechariah. Having him all alone would, however, have been a major challenge for an aging couple to meet. How did verse 58 describe the caring, supportive network that surrounded them? Who enters into your joys, and supports you when you encounter challenges? How well are you able to enter into others’ joy and support them in return?