(Luke 1:39-55)
I love the title that Nicholas King’s translation gives this Gospel passage. Unlike most others which use “Mary visits Elisabeth” this one is “Two Mothers Are Brought Together”.
Even though their babies had not yet been born, Mary and Elisabeth were both expecting and so were most definitely mothers. They were also cousins. How apt that the saviour of the world and his forerunner were related. It was natural for Mary and Elisabeth to meet up and support each other – Elisabeth in the last three months of pregnancy and Mary in the first three.
Through these two lowly women (and at that time women were considered by society to be inferior and were overlooked and ignored) God begins His transformation of the world.
At Mary’s first words comes an immediate response from Elisabeth’s unborn child – John leaps. John has acknowledged both Mary’s presence and her baby’s significance – fulfilling the prophecy about Him that even before His birth He would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Before he is even born, John is pointing to the Messiah – announcing His coming.
Elisabeth is also filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling her to announce what Mary has not yet imparted – that Mary is also with child. It is through the Holy Spirit that Elisabeth knows who Mary’s child will be – enabling her to call Mary the “Mother of my Lord”.
These two women are demonstrating tremendous faith and determination to fulfil God’s will and His work for them.
Elisabeth blesses Mary. Our English language is often proclaimed quirky and translations into English can result in some things being obscured. In this case the translation obscures the fact that Elisabeth uses more than one word for blessed.
When Elisabeth says Mary is blessed among women and that Mary’s unborn baby is blessed she uses a term which means that both present and future generations will praise and speak well of Mary and her child.
But when Elisabeth says “Blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” she uses the same term Jesus used when He blessed people in the Beatitudes. Therefore, we could translate Elisabeth’s words as “Happy is she who believed”.
Despite all expectations and women’s lack of status in society, instead of being shamed for having this baby, Mary is honoured and she is blessed with divine joy because she believed and trusted in what God is able to do and what God promises to do.
Mary’s trust and faith is a direct opposite to Elisabeth’s husband Zechariah who had demanded proof that the angel’s word was true when the angel told him Elisabeth would have a baby. Whilst not mentioned in today’s reading, Zechariah’s punishment for his doubt was to be struck dumb. It was not until the baby was born and Zechariah wrote on a slate that his baby was called John that God granted him the ability to speak again.
Instead of doubting and demanding proof, Mary asked what would happen and then willingly accepted. A lowly village girl demonstrating believe and trust where the priest had doubted.
Elisabeth had had her own share of social exclusion and judgement. The role of women at that time was to have children and, until God granted her the gift of John, Elisabeth had been treated by society as a failure. God’s grace reversed Elisabeth’s social status. Elisabeth overturned social expectations and continued the pattern of social reversal as she greets Mary at the door with honour. When Elisabeth welcomes Mary she practices the same kind of inclusive love that Jesus shows to outcasts and sinners. She sees the reality of God’s love at work amongst those whom society excludes.
This passage reflects the importance of community support and shared experiences in faith. Mary’s visit was not just fulfilling a family obligation but was also Spiritual affirmation. Mary and Elisabeth trusted that God was coming to save and free them. They gave thanks, they responded to God’s love. They supported each other as they waited in hopeful anticipation.
Let us support each other in love with hiope and faith as we wait expectantly for our Lord to return.
Just because 