As I mentioned in last week’s post, I’d like to start reading the Gospel of Luke throughout advent. I don’t anticipate being able to post each day, but I’m sure I’ll have thoughts as I go. In the first day of reading in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, I was struck by the scene of the Visitation.
At the Annunciation
At the Annunciation, Mary learns from the angel Gabriel of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
We know that Elizabeth is much older, was barren, but is now in her sixth month.
The Visitation
In the very next section, Mary travels to visit Elizabeth for three months.
“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.’”
My question is this: Did Mary communicate with Elizabeth before arriving at her house for three months?
You would think that would be necessary, although I don’t know what was normal 2000 years ago.
Either way, it is amazing that Elizabeth recognizes Mary who is so early in her pregnancy as “the Mother of my Lord”.
What did Elizabeth Know?
Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was in her 6th month. Then Mary visits her for 3 months before John the Baptist is born. That means Mary got there pretty shortly after the annunciation and would not have been showing yet.
Even if she had written or sent ahead of her arrival, it is still amazing that her immediate response upon Mary greeting her was to recognize this much younger girl who could be her own daughter, to be Mother.
If she didn’t send word ahead, the professional is even more incredible. I like to imagine that Mary could have just stopped in and the Spirit moved Elizabeth to understanding.
Yet, in this case, you’d wonder if Mary offered to stay for three months to help Elizabeth, or if Elizabeth offered for Mary to stay to spend time with Our Lord.
John the Baptist Leaped
Elizabeth’s acknowledgment of Mary’s motherhood is what initially made me pause and wonder what she knew. However, Elizabeth is not the only one who knew of Jesus’ presence in that moment.
John the Baptist, in Elizabeth’s womb, at around the end of her second trimester, leaped for joy at Mary’s voice, knowing of something Holy before him.
Saints and scholars have noted, that this is a reflection of David dancing before the Arc of the Covenant which carried Gods Presence. Now we have Mary, the new Arc, carrying God’s presence within her, and John dances.
We know that John has no forewarning of Mary’s arrival. This makes his recognition amazing as well. He could sense it himself or from his mother, and he was ready to pave the way for Christ to change the world.
Have a Happy Start of Advent
With that, it’s a good start to reading Luke for Advent. Feel free to comment with your own thoughts from Chapter 1.
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It’s also the Feast of St. Andrew today, so happy name day to me, and St. Andrew, Pray for Us!
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