I love this story! I love the intimacy of two pregnant women talking. I love that it is Elizabeth who is first filled with the Holy Spirit in this Spirit-filled gospel. I love that Mary sings in the tradition of Hannah about the “upside-down kingdom” – where humble women are exalted, where proud are scattered, where mighty are dethroned, and humble are exalted, where hungry are filled and rich sent away empty.

To those of us who live with much, this “centering of the margins” is surprising and at times troubling. How can we embrace the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom experience the same joy as Elizabeth and Mary?