MARY VISITS ELIZABETH
Baruch 1:15–21/Psalm 79:1–5, 8.9/Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 1:39–56
The gospel reading this evening presents us with the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. This visitation is a significant event in Christian theology, and it is described specifically in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:39–56). It draws our minds to the encounter between two women, the encounter between two women of God, the encounter between two pregnant women, the encounter between two relatives, the worship of two women, and the encounter between two celebrities in the New Testament and contemporary testament. This visitation has several theological implications.
1. FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY: The visitation is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The prophetic message was that the Messiah would come. (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6) Whatever God has said will surely be fulfilled, but how many of us can wait for the days of manifestation? The fulfillment of prophecy has historical significance, brings about the confirmation of faith, serves as an inspiration, and leaves us with guidance and warning.
2. IT PREFIGURES VISITATION IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Mary and Elizabeth’s encounter exemplifies the idea of visitation in the Christian community. Mary visited Elizabeth; how often do we visit ourselves? We are brothers and sisters, yet we don’t visit ourselves; even calling is a problem. We are in the same church, yet we only visit when there is bad news of death. Some don’t even visit when one is sick or bereaved. Let us learn from Mary. Mary visited her relative; you are here now. When last did you visit your relative? Let us learn to visit the sick, the lonely, those in prison, and the less privileged. In Matt. 25:36 we have that beautiful hymn: “naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
3. IT PREFIGURES DECENCY AND GOOD TIDINGS IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Again, one very essential aspect of visitation is greeting. Mary greeted Elizabeth, and the Scripture says that as soon as your greetings entered my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. A greeting is a good thing. Christians who model their lives after Mary should not just freeze their lips and begin to frown everywhere they go. No! You will discourage believers. You can’t attract souls when you are not simple and humble. Christianity values modesty. The Church recognizes the importance of greeting. That is why, after the sign of the cross, the next thing is the greeting: “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Again, the church will also invite us to greet each other with a sign of peace. Greetings bring peace. The child leaped for joy because there was peace. There can never be joy where there is no peace. We need to revive the culture of greeting amongst our children, the Church and the society.
4. RECOGNITION OF THE DIVINE: Elizabeth’s exclamation, “But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43), this is a recognition of Jesus’ divinity. Elizabeth acknowledges that Mary is the mother of the Lord, and her recognition is a key theological moment in the Gospel. So when we see Mary, she is not our bus stop; we rather recognize in her the Divine. Something Divine was in her. Ps. 45:9: “On your right stands the queen in gold of orphir” . When two women of God meet, they recognize the divine inside of them. It’s not about their clothes and jewelry. They were not into gossip but into worship.
5. IT PRESENTS US WITH THE MAGNIFICAT This is a hymn of praise from Mary. This hymn is popularly called the Magnificat. Mary drew upon the language and themes of Hannah, who lived more than a thousand years before her and praised God in similar words. This song also expressed her qualities; let us look at some of them very briefly.
✓ SHE REJOICES In verses 47–48, Mary exclaimed, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.” Mary rejoiced, even though it was almost certain that she would be humiliated because of her unmarried pregnancy. Beloved, nothing should steal your joy. If you are working for God, no amount of threats or life’s uncertainties should steal your joy. Mary rejoiced in God, her Savior. You too should rejoice in the Lord. (Ps 121:1, I rejoice.) He has made you glad; no one should make you sad. Paul and Silas knew this dimension of grace and applied it while they were in prison. They praised the Lord. (ACTS 16:25).
✓ GOD’S GRACE: Mary acknowledged that it was all God’s grace. In verse 49, “for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” She recognized that all she had was God’s grace and mercy. Rom 9:16 says, “Not of he who runs, none is he who is strong, but God who shows mercy.” Do not take God’s grace for granted. Paul spoke up saying, “I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal. 2:21. We often frustrate Grace. The first reading tells us how our exile is traceable to our fault, not God’s punishment. Baruch 1:15–21 (reading of the day)
✓GENERATIONAL BLESSING: Lastly, she declares that she belongs to the generation that is blessed. These two women are in worship. Elizabeth spoke first and said, Blessed are you among women (Luke 1:42). Later, Mary attested to it and said, “Fro now on, “all generations shall call me blessed.” His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. (Luke 1:48–50). Do you realize that you are blessed, not a cause? That is why nobody should tell you, a Christian, that you are under a generational cause. Rather, you are under a generational blessing.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
