This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. Elizabeth’s joy at her own pregnancy after so many years of barrenness is overshadowed by the joy at Mary’s visit – or rather that the unborn Lord would honor her with his presence. How wonderful it would be if we had that same attitude concerning the presence of our Lord in our gathering together, and in the Word, and in the Supper: “Blessed be God who has come to us this day.” I think that too often we think of worship as our good deed of bringing ourselves to God, when, in fact, it is a time and place where God comes to us.

Several Sundays ago (the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) a blind man cried out to Jesus in a loud voice, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”. Similarly, Elizabeth’s words are “cried out” (anaphoneo) with a “loud voice” (krauge megale) as she blesses Mary and Jesus in the womb.

“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.”

First Elizabeth “eulogizes” Mary and the “fruit of her womb.” You might think “eulogizes” is an odd choice, but literally, the word eulogeo means “to speak well of,” then “to praise,” then “to bless,” and finally, it can refer to deeds that bring blessings.  I’m not sure how many of us would be praising or blessing a young teenage, (probably 12-14 years old,) unmarried girl whom we discover is pregnant. There is far more at play in this scene.

John’s Response

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. The prenatal response of John the Baptist confirms God’s active role in preparing John for his mission even from the womb, fulfilling the angel Gabriel’s words to Zechariah that John would be “filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15).

This prenatal experience of the Spirit, embodied in his joyful leaping, points to John’s role in the unfolding narrative. Even from the womb he prophesied, implicitly transferring the designation of “Lord” to Mary’s unborn baby, recognizing in this baby the promised coming of God. Leaping for joy seems a quite appropriate response to the advent of divine redemption. John’s joyful response echoes the joy of all creation at the coming of the Savior. Luke’s Gospel often emphasizes joy as a central response to God’s saving work, from the shepherds at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:10) to the disciples at His resurrection (Luke 24:52). This foreshadows John’s later role as the forerunner who will prepare people’s hearts for the coming of Jesus.

Also, John’s leap acknowledges the significance of Mary as Theotokos, or “God-bearer.” Just as David danced before the Ark of the Covenant, John’s leap parallels this joyful recognition of God’s presence in Mary’s womb, signaling the sacredness of Mary’s role in carrying the Messiah.

Elizabeth’s Greeting

Elizabeth’s greeting and blessing of Mary is rich in biblical significance. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth is “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and she exclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). This blessing has both immediate and broader biblical implications:

Recognition of Mary’s Role and Jesus’ Divinity – Elizabeth’s greeting highlights the special role Mary holds as the mother of the Messiah. By calling Mary “blessed among women” and blessing her child, Elizabeth acknowledges that Mary has been chosen by God in a unique way. Elizabeth’s response is rooted in the Spirit’s revelation to her of Mary’s divine pregnancy and the identity of her unborn child as the long-awaited Savior. This points to Elizabeth’s faith and her prophetic awareness of Jesus’ divinity.

The Joy of the Holy Spirit – Elizabeth’s reaction is prompted by the Holy Spirit. This moment signifies the joy that God’s presence brings, as Elizabeth and even her unborn child (John the Baptist) respond with joy and awe at the presence of the unborn Jesus. This joy is a recurring theme in Luke’s Gospel, portraying the coming of Jesus as a fulfillment of God’s promises.

Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant – In a broader biblical sense, some scholars see Mary’s visit to Elizabeth as reminiscent of the Ark of the Covenant coming to the house of Obed-Edom in 2 Samuel 6. Just as the Ark represented God’s presence among His people, Mary now brings the physical presence of God—Jesus—into Elizabeth’s home, symbolizing Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant.

The Obedience of Faith – This greeting, filled with blessing, affirms Mary’s faith and obedience. Elizabeth’s blessing, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:45), emphasizes Mary’s faith as a model for all believers, highlighting her as an example of trust in God’s promises. As the mother of the Lord, Mary is unique. As one who believes that God’s Word will be fulfilled, she is a model of faith for us all.

Elizabeth’s greeting sets the stage for Mary’s Magnificat, the song of praise that follows, where Mary glorifies God’s greatness and mercy. This entire scene underscores the theme of joy, faith, and God’s unfolding salvation, all central to Luke’s Gospel.

Image credit: The Visitation | Giotto | Lower Church of the Basilica of St. Francis | Assisi, Italy | PD-US