'During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled (Lk. 1:39-45).”’
The final stages of God’s plan of salvation for mankind began with Jesus. It is difficult to imagine a 14year old virgin making a 4-day trip to the hill country by herself, so this is most likely part of Luke’s theological construct to show the importance of the events that were happening. Both Mary and Elizabeth were having children profoundly blessed by God before they were even conceived, and Luke brought the four of them together so that the two chosen women may praise God for actively acting in their lives, and to show the divine primacy of Jesus. Elizabeth praised Mary and acknowledged the blessedness of the fruit of Mary’s womb which will feed all who hunger for righteousness. (vv. 42-43). Through the Holy Spirit (v. 41), Elizabeth interpreted the child leaping in her womb as John joyfully recognizing Jesus as Lord. Luke contrasted the unbelief of John’s father Zechariah (Lk. 1:20) with the belief and obedience of Mary (Lk. 1:38). The angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you (v. 28),” and Elizabeth response to Mary, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb (v. 42),” form the first part of the Hail Mary – Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Almighty God, your amazing grace has healed and saved many who were lost and could not find their way. Grant us the understanding of Elizabeth that our hearts may leap for joy at the wonder of your works. Send down your Spirit to help us praise you and to acknowledge your son as our Lord and God. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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