Dec. 3, 2023: The Visitation to Elizabeth
The third Sunday of the Season of Announcement commemorates another important event in the unfolding of the promises of God: Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.
After receiving such tremendous good news, Mary could have secluded herself in a life of prayer and contemplation. However, after the agnel of the Lord had communicated the news of Elizabeth’s conception to her, Mary perceived it as the Lord’s will that she go to be with Elizabeth, and thus chose to share the divine life within her with another. Mary shared Jesus with others even before his birth. The fundamental task of an apostle is to share Jesus with others, and so, Mary is called the “Queen of the Apostles”.
Impelled by the Spirit of God, Mary left on a journey that required four days of difficult travel, especially for a poor girl such as herself. Yet, as the Mother of God and our Mother, she was already concerned for the welfare of others.
When Mary encountered Elizabeth, the unborn infant in her womb leapt for joy, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Spirit and sang of the blessedness of Mary.
Mary is blessed, not simply because she was to be the Mother of God, but also because of her own personal faith. She heard the words of the angel and accepted everything that was to happen with humility. For this reason, she is blessed throughout the ages.
The hymn of Mary differs from that of Zechariah. Zechariah’s hymn is communal: he is proclaiming gratitude to God on behalf of all the people of Israel. On the other hand, Mary’s hymn is personal, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” She is humbly proclaiming the great things that God has done for her. In humility, the Virgin of Nazareth proclaims how great the Lord has made her by choosing her as the Mother of his Son.
The hymn of Mary announces a revolution which God will bring about through his Son. This revolution has a variety of aspects: it is moral (“He has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts”); social (“He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places.”); and economic (“The hungry he has given every good thing while the rich he has sent empty away”).
To be called by God for any task, brings with it a crown of sorrows and a crown of joy. God chooses us not for our own glorification, but in order to use us to bring about his kingdom. Like Mary, all of us should respond with humility and be grateful to God for choosing us as his instruments.
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Synaxarion for the Visitation to Elizabeth evening prayer (Ramsho), Maronite Divine Office.