Reading
Luke 1:39-56
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Comment
Having received the announcement of the angel, Mary sets out "in haste" (v. 39) towards the house of her cousin Elizabeth. Mary's haste indicates her ready availability to God's plan and her making her herald of salvation, she who was the first to receive the announcement of the gospel.
Mary, having become God's abode, makes a journey towards the mountain that recalls that of the ark of the covenant (2 Sam 6:1-15), and the words that David spoke in front of it echo in those of Elizabeth: "why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (v. 43). Mary's cousin recognizes Jesus as Lord even before her birth, surprised by the jolt of the child she carries in her womb at the voice of Mary's greeting.
In the account of the visitation, Mary appears as a true theophor, bearer of God, capable of reaching those who await salvation and of communicating Christ. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is the model, among the children of Israel, of those who can see the fulfillment of the messianic promises. Thus, after Mary's greeting, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and blesses her cousin and the fruit of her womb.
Elizabeth's understanding of the divine events that are taking place is extraordinary and only the illuminating grace can allow her to go beyond the curtain of mystery that guards them. Her declaration of humility shows that those who are filled with the Holy Spirit have no consideration for their own "merits," but high esteem for the favor received from God.
Mary's journey teaches us that when grace works in our hearts we want to readily share it. The missionary nature of the believer can take various forms, but it is always the sign of authentic faith. While waiting for the Lord to come, we are called by the Spirit to make us heralds of the gospel, diligent, even when the journey to the mountain is tiring.
The hymn of praise, known from its first word of the Latin version as Magnificat, makes extensive use of the canticle that Anna raised to God for having received her son Samuel as a gift, despite his sterility. (1 Sam 2:1-10) and for three-fifths takes up other passages from the Old Testament. It may have been a Judeo-Christian hymn considered by Luke to be suitable for the situation and in harmony with other reasons found in his Gospel: the joy in the Lord, the choice of the poor, the reversed fate of human fortune, the fulfillment of the messianic promises.
Mary rejoices in God, recognizing herself not only as of the Savior's mother (this is the meaning of the name "Jesus": "God saves"), but herself saved by God, our sister in faith, through which she was touched by grace.
Mercy is a characteristic theme of Luke's Gospel: God, through the Son, puts himself at the service of man. God's love saves the sinner by asking him only to let himself be loved. The humble (v. 52) are the poor in goods and social position, who place their trust in God, those who in the biblical literature are defined in Hebrew anawim, and whom Jesus proclaims blessed (Mt 5:3).
Paul too affirms that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Cor 1:27). Elizabeth proclaimed Mary blessed on the occasion of her visitation; but here Mary, aware of the extraordinary favor that has been granted to her, that is, of virginally conceiving the savior of humanity, proclaims that all generations, Jews and peoples, will call her "blessed".
God is glorified in the song for his promises as if they had already been fulfilled. He stretches out the power of his arm (v. 51) not to subjugate humanity but to reach her with his love for her. This is the meaning of the Magnificat: the Lord is faithful and with his mercy covers the infidelities of his people and of all those who fear him (v. 50). Forever.
Prayer
O God, we rejoice in your salvation; like a shadow, your mercy covers our sins and your hand comes to our aid. Glorified be your Son, who comes to fulfill the ancient promises. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
