“...he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born”
I have just loved this part for so many years now, it truly brings me joy to know.
And indeed he was, as we know from The Visitation, John the Baptist knew the unborn Jesus Christ, both in their mother’s wombs:
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
How joyous, too, for Mary, that Elizabeth provided that (much-needed, I expect) second confirmation of Gabriel’s announcement. For Mary’s third confirmation, the text implies, she hung around to see that Elizabeth’s child was both alive and male. And, of course, her fourth was Joseph’s dream. God overwhelmed her with confirmations! (Not to mention the fifth, the unexpected journey to Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy.)