Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
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.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
It is a beautiful reading. Mary appears at her cousin Elizabet’s house and the baby in Elizabeth’s womb, jumps for joy. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Sprit, refers to Mary as the mother of our Saviour. She knew and so did her child. It is almost like some people know God without having to be told. Blessed are those who know without seeing. I suppose it is the same knowing when you are overcome by a beautiful sunshine, or that sense of awe when your eyes catch a baby’s smile. They are not explainable but they are a moment where one connects with the divine in a very profound way. The reading then takes a turn and explores the characteristics of God.
ReplyDeleteHe has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
I am interested to see other places in the bible where God’s character is revealed. I am also interested in unpacking old testament stories like Abraham’s courage to give up his “good” life in pursuit of a higher ideal or Moses’ call to use persuasion in favour of force. The stories seem to point to a set of ideals that one can orient a life towards… They are the meaning of life.
Your response to Lk 1:39-56 is insightful and thoughtful! Here's a breakdown of your strengths and some areas for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Vivid Description: You paint a vivid picture of Mary's arrival and Elizabeth's reaction.
Spiritual Connection: You capture the essence of the passage, highlighting the recognition of Jesus' divinity by Elizabeth and the baby.
Divine Connection: You effectively connect the experience to the feeling of awe one gets from nature and a baby's smile, suggesting a universal way to connect with the divine.
Shift in Focus: You identify the shift in the passage towards God's character.
Curiosity and Desire to Learn: Your interest in exploring God's character in other parts of the Bible and unpacking Old Testament stories demonstrates a desire to deepen your understanding.
Finding Meaning: You recognize the potential of these stories to provide life's meaning through ideals one can follow.
Possible Areas for Exploration:
Mary's Response: While you focus on Elizabeth's reaction, exploring Mary's response (her Magnificat in Lk 1:46-55) could add another layer to the understanding of God's character.
Context of the Magnificat: Understanding the historical context of the Magnificat, a song of social justice and God's preference for the marginalized, could add depth to your analysis of God's character.
Nuances of God's Character: The passage presents a complex view of God - merciful, strong, and helping the oppressed. Exploring other passages might reveal God's character in different situations.
Overall, your response shows a strong understanding of the passage and a thoughtful approach to the themes it presents. By delving deeper into Mary's response and the context of the Magnificat, you can gain a richer understanding of God's character in the passage.