May 31, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 1:39-45 (46-56)

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; Luke 18:1-17

“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.” (Luke 1:39-41)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  

“With haste.” That means she went quickly. Mary didn’t dawdle. She didn’t waste her time. She got out of town and went to see her cousin. How long did it take? It was about 90 miles of a journey, so even going at a slow pace, she would have gotten there in a few days of travel. Even if she had taken a few days to pack and prepare for the journey, she would have gotten there about a week after the Angel Gabriel had visited her.

So, with the Little Lord Jesus (one week from conception!) in her womb, Mary greets Elizabeth. At the sound of her greeting, St. John (six months from conception) leaps within his mother’s womb because he is in the presence of His Lord! How big was Jesus at that time? Well, at four weeks, a baby is about .04 inches and .04 ounces. So, at one week? Not big at all! But there was God in the flesh, and John worships Him. 

The One who is mighty makes Himself weak. He scatters the proud but lifts the lowly. As He came to the lowly Virgin Mary, He still comes down to us, filling the hungry with His Body and Blood and clothing us with His righteousness.

Your Savior is not a Savior who reigns from high above. He is a Savior who comes down to us. He is not a Savior who doesn’t understand you or get what it’s like to be in your place. Jesus knows you. He knows your pain and your weakness. He knows what it is like to grow up, to learn to read, to get hurt by nature and hurt by people, even close friends. He knows what it’s like to be a child in the womb. He knows what it is like to be an infant, a toddler, a teenager. He knows what it’s like to die and to rise again.

Jesus comes for you. He comes to die that you might live.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Before he yet was born, He leaped in joyful meeting, Confessing Him as Lord Whose mother he was greeting. By Jordan’s rolling stream, A new Elijah bold, He testified of Him Of whom the prophets told. (LSB 346:2)

- Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God’s people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.