Luke 1:39-56

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

46 Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,

    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

49 For the Mighty One is holy,

    and he has done great things for me.

50 He shows mercy from generation to generation

    to all who fear him.

51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

52 He has brought down princes from their thrones

    and exalted the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

    and sent the rich away with empty hands.

54 He has helped his servant Israel

    and remembered to be merciful.

55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,

    to Abraham and his children forever.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

1 Samuel 2:4-8

4 The bow of the mighty is now broken,

   and those who stumbled are now strong.

5 Those who were well fed are now starving,

   and those who were starving are now full.

The childless woman now has seven children,

   and the woman with many children wastes away.

6 The Lord gives both death and life;

   he brings some down to the grave[a] but raises others up.

7 The Lord makes some poor and others rich;

   he brings some down and lifts others up.

8 He lifts the poor from the dust

   and the needy from the garbage dump.

He sets them among princes,

   placing them in seats of honor.

For all the earth is the Lord’s,

   and he has set the world in order.