The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. She looks backward, to the covenants which God has made with Abraham and with His people in the Old Testament. Luis A. Zazano May 30, 2021. God has not just singled Mary out for blessing, leaving others in their miserable estate. After indicating his purpose for writing this gospel in verses 1-4, Luke immediately commenced his account by introducing Zacharias, the father-to-be of John the Baptist. 6 Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out all the commandments and observances of the Lord. While Elizabeth spoke with a loud voice (1:42), Mary is perhaps more sedate. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.. 75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, all our days. In the New Testament epistles, the apostles insist that Christians not conform to the evil social practices of their day, but live according to the social standards of the gospel, to which Mary referred, and which our Lord taught. 45 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. But he could only make signs to them and remained dumb. 2just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,b Get the app {{#signedIn}} . 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. 44For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. Some thoughts on today's scripture. In verses 46-49, Mary praises God for His mercy as expressed toward her. 29But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among . We are led to the conclusion that Marys praise was spoken in the hearing of Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise was spoken to God, but for Marys benefit. * [1:5766] The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize Johns incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:112). 56 Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home. 59* When they came on the eighth day to circumciseh the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love. In this section Luke announces many of the themes that will become prominent in the rest of the gospel: the centrality of Jerusalem and the temple, the journey motif, the universality of salvation, joy and peace, concern for the lowly, the importance of women, the presentation of Jesus as savior, Spirit-guided revelation and prophecy, and the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. 67Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: 68* Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.k, 69* He has raised up a horn for our salvation. By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus. We will explore the basis for Elizabeths blessing of Mary later, but for now let us simply observe that the arrival of Mary is the occasion for Elizabeths praise, not the soon arrival of John. The Israelites felt that their physical link with Abraham was sufficient to save them, but they were wrong, and John would later challenge this false belief (Luke 3:8). To press the matter of Marys obedience even further, Mary was not only obedient to the imperatives of Gods word, but also to the inferences of His word. Marys praise was addressed to God, but in adoring God she also encouraged and edified Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise encouraged her. She must have been very devastated upon seeing Jesus died but she understood the truth. The narrative of Johns circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. 73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham. The scribes and Pharisees seemed as though they could only think and talk in terms of the Law of Moses. THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE [22:14-23:56] The people may sit for the first part of the . 39. The fact that the worship of these women was more restricted than that of men is no hindrance to their spiritual growth and development. The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Lk 1:3233) and Son of God (Lk 1:32, 35). 8-9). Regardless, these are some of the most beautiful words in all the word of God. * [1:43] Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord. 59 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother spoke up. If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. Even the church has made its concessions to the womens liberation movement. Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. From now on all generations will call me blessed. 1 The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate. We cannot say for certain, but we can affirm at this moment that all that she said was divinely inspired. (7) Mary is a model disciple in that her praise was not only a personal expression of worship, but also was edifying to Elizabeth. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. There was so much that women could not do, or at least were not allowed to do. Not so with Mary. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for Gods favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. While there is some truth in the rather dismal picture which I have portrayed, it is not utterly so. (6) Mary is a model disciple in her evident reflection and meditation on the things of God. * [1:76] You will go before the Lord: here the Lord is most likely a reference to Jesus (contrast Lk 1:1517 where Yahweh is meant) and John is presented as the precursor of Jesus. Thus there is a kind of criss-crossing effect in the praise of both women, for each expresses ones personal praise, but edifies the other. She would have been separated from Joseph, while at the same time being chaperoned by Elizabeth and Zachariah. 7But they had no child,* because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.d 67. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. While this is certainly true, Mary chose to focus on what the child would be and accomplish as an adult, and not what her child would be as a child. 44 Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Our praise tends to be based almost exclusively on our pleasant and pleasurable experiences. Luke 1,39-56. by Fr. As a second- or third-generation Christian, Luke acknowledges his debt to earlier eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, but claims that his contribution to this developing tradition is a complete and accurate account, told in an orderly manner, and intended to provide Theophilus (friend of God, literally) and other readers with certainty about earlier teachings they have received. in 1971. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Like mother, like son. 21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuary so long. Marys role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among those who believed after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14). (3) In verse 50 Marys praise broadens, viewing Gods grace to her as a reflection of His gracious purposes for His chosen people, Israel. The angel had not commanded Mary to go to the house of Elizabeth, but had only stated that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age, which showed that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:36-37). Gods compassion on her has revealed both His power and His holiness (Mighty One, holy is His name, v. 49). She knows the true mystery beyond His death so she bear it. Both reach out in love and rejoice in the work of God in their live. Thank you. Bible. The Lord is with you.'. Let us ponder them. The women seemed only fit for fixing meals and bearing children. 16 The term young is used with some caution, for it is only tradition that teaches us Mary was a young, girl, a teen. I will not pursue this in any detail here, but let me point out several areas of contrast between Marys theology, her understanding of the Old Testament, and that of the scribes and Pharisees. And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed. But He said, On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it (Luke 11:27-28). Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE), Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. 2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. Mary Visits Elizabeth. She may have been rehearsing what she would say to Elizabeth when she first saw her. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, He will drink neither wine nor strong drink, He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, You will be speechless and unable to talk, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. How, then, did Elizabeth know that Jesus would be born of a virgin, and that the virgin was none other than her relative, Mary? Mary thus presses from the specific to the general, from her personal benefits to the blessings which all of Gods people (those who fear Him) experience. 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 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