St Peters Orthodox Church

When the Blessed Virgin visits Elizabeth, who is far along in her pregnancy with St. John the Forerunner, St. John leaped in the womb of Elizabeth with joy at the presence of Christ. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaimed "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." The Blessed Virgin responds the Magnificat, a great praise to God alone for what He has done for her. In the Magnificat, our Lord's Mother says that God has regarding the humility of His handmaiden. God was attracted by this humility. He turned His gaze to her due to her humility. Tonight we consider the humility that God regards and what it means that He turns His gaze to the humble.