The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
- stillhotundertheco
- May 31, 2023
- 4 min read
May 31, 2023
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
This story, found in Luke 1: 39-56*, tells the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, immediately after she learns from the angel Gabriel that she is to give birth to the Messiah. In those days, we are told, Mary sets out with haste to a Judean town in the hill country to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who is beyond the usual child-bearing age, greets the young Mary with joy as the child in her womb (John the Baptizer) leaps in acknowledgment of the Messiah.
It is then, after this greeting between the two women, that Mary sings a song of revolution that foretells the new reign of God in the child in her womb.
There’s so much that we don’t know about this story. Often, when we are unclear about something we insert what we think should happen, or what we might do in this case, or how we hope the story might unfold. For instance, some people think that Mary went with haste to see Elizabeth because she was afraid and uncertain. What would Joseph think? What would other people think? Those are reasonable assumptions. But this was a young woman who had just engaged in a theological argument with an archangel, so isn’t it also possible that she went to see Elizabeth because she, too, was a woman who knew how to handle unexpected news and together they could rejoice in all that was yet to be? Also reasonable.
Every time I read this, or almost any story from Scripture, I find something new to consider. Every time, as long as I’m paying attention. This time, today, May 31, 2023 this footnote to 1:46 caught my attention: “Other ancient authorities read Elizabeth.” Say what now? Verse 46 is three words long: “And Mary said”. The footnote is to the name Mary. Other ancient manuscripts substitute Elizabeth for Mary. The Magnificat could have been sung by Elizabeth! Or Mary. Or Elizabeth. Maybe it was a duet!
Either way…either way….it was being sung by a woman who because of her age, Elizabeth was “too old” and Mary was a virgin/young woman, and certainly because of her gender, was dismissed by the power structures of the day. Deemed past her prime, barren, naïve, or innocent….both women were of no use to those in power. But to God, they were women of great purpose. Women who could handle what God was calling them to because what the world saw as deficit, God saw as strength.
How often, still today, are women who are of a certain age considered past their prime/of no use while men of the same age are distinguished/wise? How often are young girls considered foolish/innocent while the antics of boys are overlooked as locker room behavior?
Mary and Elizabeth remind us, beloveds, that when God was preparing to come to earth in the person of the Messiah, God chose a young girl, who I like to think, was entirely suited and in this section of Luke 1, needed to go rejoice with wonder alongside another woman well suited to birthing change into the world. In my mind’s eye, as I fill in the missing details, I see the two of them sitting at the table with some tea, while Zechariah gives them space for their mutual joy. They are beaming and beautiful and laughing and loving and yes, singing, together, that the revolution of love and justice was growing, even in their very being.
*Luke 1: 39-56, New Revised Standard Version, Updated
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[e] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
46 And Mary[f] said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; 50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
There are many beautiful (and some not so much) depictions in art of this meeting. A quick internet search will yield many of them. Here are some that I enjoy:
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