The house was quiet. Ever since her husband lost his ability to speak, Elizabeth’s voice was the only one heard.  Zechariah had gone into the Holy Place alone and came out a mute; something Elizabeth had yet to understand.  If they had children, Zechariah’s silence might have been missed; being childless, one person’s silence could fill a room.

Zechariah tried to explain what happened behind the sacred curtain, but Elizabeth couldn’t grasp what he was trying to say.  He wanted to assure her everything was going to be fine, but Elizabeth couldn’t stop wondering.

As her mind tumbled like a marble in a box, she felt it. She stopped and put her hand to her stomach. It was like the flutter of a butterfly’s wing in her belly. What had she eaten? Was she becoming ill? The feeling passed as she began to tackle the household chores.

Weeks passed and then the feeling came again.  It was stronger now and lasted longer.  Her mind began to race and then it struck her, could she be pregnant?

Elizabeth’s hope began to grow. She fell to her knees in prayer, asking for this to be so. After so many years of barrenness , after so many years of pitying looks from her family and friends, could this be true? Could there be a child in her womb?

She ran to find Zechariah, to tell him her news.  When she came to him she could find no words to speak, she just took his hand and placed it on her stomach.  The baby moved. They stared at each other in hope and yet disbelief as joy filled their hearts!

Elizabeth and Zechariah held this news close, not wanting to share this precious gift with others.

At about the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, their niece, Mary came to visit.  When Mary entered their home and said, “Hello,” the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped.  Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Luke 1:42-45

Both women embraced each other relishing the gifts of life placed in their wombs.

The Proclaimer, John the Baptist, born to be great and to call all to repentance.

The Son of God, Jesus, not yet born and yet always was, is and is to come, to be born of a virgin, to be the sinless sacrifice for all who believe.

Story based on Luke 1