4. (B) 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women,(C) and blessed is the child you will bear! The things which Luke does not tell us ought not to be our primary concern, to deal with them as unsolved mysteries, for which we must have an answer. Luke is not only interested in the words and deeds of Jesus, but also in the larger context of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises of God in the Old Testament. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, He will drink neither wine nor strong drink, He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, You will be speechless and unable to talk, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Canticle of Zechariah. For less than $5/mo. 59 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother spoke up. (2) Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and her words were a divinely inspired utterance. * [1:3637] The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angels announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. Even this is a manifestation of Gods grace, for at this early point in time such knowledge would only have caused Mary unnecessary and premature pain. [1:48] 11:27; 1Sm 1:11; 2Sm 16:12; 2Kgs 14:26; Ps 113:7. z. Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Luke 1:39-56. The language of our praise should betray a continual soaking in the Scriptures and meditation on the terms and theology of the Bible. I am thus inclined to view this as Lukes way of informing us that some women may very well surpass men spiritually. These include the following: Whether or not Mary was yet pregnant. Mary viewed all of Gods dealings in the light of His grace; the religious leaders only thought in terms of human works. She is a woman who grasps the Word of God, who meditates upon it, and who is obedient to it, both in its imperatives and in its inferences. Holy is his name. This is not the way men are saved, however. The book of Revelation speaks much of these themes, and prophesies their fulfillment. Mary is a model disciple. Whether or not Mary was present when John was born. You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. Marys Magnificat reveals the depth of her grasp of Gods grace, which is not only shown to her, but to all the people of God, and from generation to generation. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51, emphasis mine). Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. 75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, all our days. 9 when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incense there. (7) Mary focused more on the results of Christs second coming than she did the first. Luke does not tell us of any such communication, and the readers impression tends to be that there was no communication prior to her arrival, at least so far as Marys visitation by the angel. 69 and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David. Finally, there are those who would accept the rendering of some obscure manuscripts14 and conclude that it was Elizabeth and not Mary, who was the composer of the magnificat,15 the praise hymn of verses 46-55. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. (O)53He has filled the hungry with good things(P)but has sent the rich away empty.54He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful(Q)55to Abraham and his descendants(R) forever,just as he promised our ancestors.. Here and in Lk 3:12 he connects his narrative with events in Palestinian history; in Lk 2:12 and Lk 3:1 he casts the Jesus story in the light of events of Roman history. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. From now on all generations will call me blessed. They strained the gnats but they swallowed the camels. If Mary had any such reservations, how quickly they were dispelled! 14 He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth. She views this event in terms of the distant past, in terms of the covenant promises of God, in terms of the history of Israel, where Gods mercy was shown on generation after generation, and in terms of the distant future, when at His second coming Messiah will set things straight. The very moment she entered the house and gave a customary greeting, Elizabeth blessed Mary as the mother of her Lord. Luke 1,39-56. by Fr. 1. 21 Charles H. Talbert, Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third Gospel (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1982), p. 22. "And Mary said: 'My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.'". Nevertheless, others have reacted to this error by failing to see this woman as a model disciple. 43And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me? It seems to me that this is a very significant fact. Chapter 1 . 71 that he would save us from our enemies and from the hands of all those who hate us. The births of Abraham (Genesis 12-21), Samuel (1 Samuel 1 & 2), and Samson (Judges 13), are examples of such miraculous births. This is evident in the blessing pronounced by Elizabeth, which subtly contrasts the belief of Mary with the unbelief of Zacharias: And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord (Luke 1:45). (:48a) State of Elevation from Humble Standing. Not so with Mary. (1) Elizabeth seems to praise Mary before Mary has had any opportunity to explain anything to her. Matthew 23). 56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. 11 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. He would be the Son of the Most High, who would be given the throne of His father David, from which He would rule (vv. According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Marys pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God. 3I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 14 A few Latin MSS read Elizabeth said instead of Mary said, and some commentators (e.g. Resume Prayer. God looked upon her humble estate with compassion; consequently she will be esteemed blessed by all future generations (v. 48). 13-17). This brought a rebuke, and a temporary loss of speech, which nevertheless served as a sign to the people assembled at the temple that something very significant was about to happen. Marys praise was addressed to God, but in adoring God she also encouraged and edified Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise encouraged her. The fact that the worship of these women was more restricted than that of men is no hindrance to their spiritual growth and development. 76 And you, little child, you shall be called Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him. Mary saw her blessing as but an illustration, one instance of Gods grace, which leads her to praise God for His grace to all those who fear Him, from one generation to generation. (4) Mary is a model disciple in grasp of the social implications of the gospel. 1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us. 17 The term which is rendered city (a city of Judah, v. 39) is one that is very broad, and does not really indicate the size of the place. The bore the added social stigma of having no children. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. While this is true, this must be kept in its proper perspective. 12 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. While some think that they will be a Christian by trying harder to live a good life they need to learn that becoming a Christian, being born again is illustrated by the birth of Marys child, while trying to be religious through good works is illustrated by the birth of John the Baptist. Elizabeth is a magnificent woman of God, in Lukes opinion. d. [1:7] Gn 18:11; Jgs 13:25; 1Sm 1:56. That which she speaks far surpasses what we are told Gabriel said to Zacharias. Far more important to Luke is her virginity, for this is an essential element in the virgin birth. I doubt that Mary way aware of the fact that Christ would come to earth twice, to achieve two distinct purposes. Mary did not mention the Law of Moses, the Mosaic Covenant, but only Gods promise to Abraham, the Abrahamic Covenant. Marys response was an elegant expression of faith: Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38). . Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you shall name him John. (4) In verses 51-55, Marys praise focuses on the faithfulness of God to His promises and His purposes, especially His covenant with Abraham and his descendants. 6 Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out all the commandments and observances of the Lord. Before we begin to deal with our text, there are some introductory comments which may prove to be helpful. She may even have wondered whether or not to tell of her visit by the angel Gabriel. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Is Divorce And Remarriage After Abuse, Neglect, Financial, Or Emotional Issues Okay. * [1:34] Marys questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angels declaration about the Spirits role in the conception of this child (Lk 1:35). These were the themes of the Old Testament prophets. Bridgeway Bible Commentary. but has lifted up the humble. Luke 1:39-56: Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. We must seek to dwell much more on the character of God, of His covenant promises, and of His working in history, as well as in the future. Six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary, indicating to her that she would be the mother of Israels Messiah. There are a number of ways in which the worship of these two women relate to contemporary Christians. * [1:15] He will drink neither wine nor strong drink: like Samson (Jgs 13:45) and Samuel (1Sm 1:11 LXX and 4QSama), John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lords service. 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Priestly division of Abijah: a reference to the eighth of the twenty-four divisions of priests who, for a week at a time, twice a year, served in the Jerusalem temple. They were not, however, the themes of the scribes and Pharisees. Luke 1:39-56 . 12Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. Luke-Acts is a two-part historical account traditionally ascribed to Luke, who was believed to be a follower of Paul.The author of Luke-Acts noted that there were many accounts in circulation at the time of his writing, saying that these were eye-witness testimonies. 37for nothing will be impossible for God.r The narrative uses early Christian traditions about the birth of Jesus, traditions about the birth and circumcision of John the Baptist, and canticles such as the Magnificat (Lk 1:4655) and Benedictus (Lk 1:6779), composed of phrases drawn from the Greek Old Testament. One can speculate as to what Mary may have been thinking along the way to Elizabeths home. I was 'a stranger and you gave me no welcome', Pope Francis: 'We do not have to be perfect', Daily Readings for Wednesday, January 18, 2023, St. Volusian: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Prayer for the Family: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Mary also understood the purposes of God as a plan which He had been carrying out throughout Israels history. Used by permission. (1) Marys psalm of praise reveals a repeated use of the terminology and theology of the Old Testament. New International Version (NIV). 70even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,m, 73and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,p. Start for FREE. 19 The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel, who stand in God's presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. 55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Mary was not sinless; recognized her need for a Savior. We learn from the other gospel accounts that John was quick to acknowledge and proclaim the superiority of Christ (John 1:19-28), and thus to accept his secondary role as forerunner to the Messiah. . But he could only make signs to them and remained dumb. Mary may have wondered how Elizabeth would respond to the news she had to share. 66 All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. Mary left almost immediately for the home of Elizabeth and Zacharias, and the journey may have taken some time. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:69; 24:1416; 26:28, 2223) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism. 27to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgins name was Mary.l They forget that all pious Israelites from their childhood days knew by heart songs from the Old Testament and often sang them in the home circle and at celebrations. To press the matter of Marys obedience even further, Mary was not only obedient to the imperatives of Gods word, but also to the inferences of His word. Just as Marys response surpasses that of Zachariah, so the greatness of the miracle of the virgin birth of Messiah will exceed the miracle which produces a son for the elderly priest and his wife. She knows the true mystery beyond His death so she bear it. . Nevertheless, their praise was pleasing to God and it has been preserved for our edification. She would, by the miraculous action of the Holy Spirit, become pregnant, and her holy child would be called the Son of God (v. 35). (2) Mary is a model disciple in the depth of her familiarity with the word of God. (8) Marys theology, as reflected in her Magnificat is vastly superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, who would become the arch enemies of our Lord. Some may question how a simple peasant-girl may have such a grasp of the Old Testament. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; 33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Luke ends this section (vv. Luke 1:56 Catholic Bible If verse 50 spells out the principle that God blesses His people, from generation to generation, verses 51-55 give some specific ways in which this has and will be done. Get the app {{#signedIn}} . Do Those Who Commit Suicide Go To Hell? Luis A. Zazano May 30, 2021. Neither, Elizabeth, Mary, nor Luke refer to the fetus in Marys womb, while we are specifically told that John leaped in his mothers womb when Elizabeth heard Marys greeting (Luke 1:41). For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. "May your word to me be fulfilled.". 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, After the announcement is made (Lk 1:1417, 3133) the parent objects (Lk 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Lk 1:20, 36). The marginal references in our Bibles indicate the many other allusions and parallels. 30Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Our praise, like that of Elizabeth and Mary, should not only seek to exalt God, but also to edify those who may hear it. THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE [22:14-23:56] The people may sit for the first part of the . Nevertheless, girls were married young in those days, and it is thus likely true that Mary was quite young. 18 In our study of the book of Jonah, we concluded that Jonah typified the sin of Israel by his lack of compassion, his disobedience, his self-righteousness, and his refusal to repent. Catholic Public Domain Version . And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. In His rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus constantly referred to these great themes, and to the fact that legalistic Judaism violated them (cf. She did not have any social standing due to her parentage or class, nor even the dignity of Elizabeth and Zacharias age. 29But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Zachariah was told that his prayer (a prayer, I assume, for the coming of Messiah) had been answered, and that he and his wife would have the privilege and pleasure of bearing the son who would prepare the way for Messiahs appearance (vv. To those who lived far away from the Holy Land, the name of this unknown place was unimportant. 50 and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him. This is a very poorly supported theory, and one which can be rather quickly set aside. This principle may be stated in this way: A MIRACULOUS PERSON BEGINS WITH A MIRACULOUS BIRTH. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1,39-56. 43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. they wondered. In verses 46-49, Mary praises God for His mercy as expressed toward her. We can see that the verbs in these verses are past perfect. (7) Mary is a model disciple in that her praise was not only a personal expression of worship, but also was edifying to Elizabeth. Yet the worship of both of these women is such that they are models for all true disciples of our Lord. 72 and show faithful love to our ancestors, and so keep in mind his holy covenant. 11the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. There is no provincialism to be found in her praise. Indeed, it would seem that in the case of Elizabeth, if not also Mary, her spirituality surpassed that of her husband. Finally, we should strive to see beyond the birth of the baby to the end for which the child cameto restore and reconcile fallen men to God and to one another. 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. The Wonder Of Christmas. 12:46-50; Luke 8:19-21). There is no mention in this account of how Messiah will come to earth. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. There is no such thing as a purely 'spiritual' love. 64Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.j 44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. Mary Visits Elizabeth. The immediate faith and submission of Mary, a simple and very young peasant girl, to the will of God is contrasted with the hesitant request of Zachariah for a sign, a man who was a priest all his many years of life. These things are still future for us, as they were for Mary, for they will be accomplished at the second coming of our Lord. 35And the angel said to her in reply, The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. In the course of Zacharias priestly duties, it fell his lot to have the high privilege of offering the incense at the temple of the Lord (vv. Nevertheless, it is our conviction that the principles of the New Testament church are as relevant and binding today as they were in Pauls day. Mary thus presses from the specific to the general, from her personal benefits to the blessings which all of Gods people (those who fear Him) experience. Mary got the point, however, and without having to be told to do so, went immediately to Elizabeths house, even though it was apparently some distance away and involved considerable inconvenience. Start for FREE. While Christs coming meant more than saving men from their sins, this was the beginning, the prerequisite for all that He would accomplish. (3) Mary is a model disciple in her grasp of the grace of God, and in her gratitude toward God for bestowing grace on her. 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Because of this, the practices of our church stand out, and are considered very offensive to many women, and some men. 41When Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Her whole hymn is inspired by this fact.20. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. 5 In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. get to know the Bible better! The Israelites felt that their physical link with Abraham was sufficient to save them, but they were wrong, and John would later challenge this false belief (Luke 3:8). It's easier for you to praise Jesus this Palm Sunday. Thus, James has some very strong words on the subject of discriminating against the poor and showing partiality to the rich (cf. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and . Gospel, Luke 1:39-56 39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. Salvation does not result from our efforts, which God miraculously blesses. As the apostle Paul put it, let all things be done for edification (1 Cor. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. By every indication, Luke was a Gentile. While this may not refer only to the saving work which Messiah will come to accomplish, surely it includes it. We might suspect that the limitations of biblical revelation, compounded by those of the culture, would have made womanhood a curse. 19And the angel said to him in reply, I am Gabriel,* who stand before God. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among . 23 When his time of service came to an end he returned home. Nevertheless she assumes throughout that He has indeed been promised her. 2just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,b By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus. 36And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived* a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; We need by read the final chapter of the book of Proverbs to see that women, at least biblically, were given great privileges and responsibilities. When one thinks of the women of the ancient world, our first emotional response is usually pity. His self-righteousness is evident in the psalm of chapter 2, which dwells on his dilemma, his danger, and his deliverance, but not on God. 17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah* to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.h The account presents parallel scenes (diptychs) of angelic announcements of the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus, and of the birth, circumcision, and presentation of John and Jesus. There were now two witnesses. The Birth of John. (5) Marys praise serves as an encouragement to Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise was an encouragement to her. Herod the Great, the son of the Idumean Antipater, was declared King of Judea by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C., but became the undisputed ruler of Palestine only in 37 B.C. The first to speak, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cries out in a loud voice and utters words which we could only consider prophetic: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1 : 42). 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones. 31 Look! c. [1:52] 1Sm 2:7; 2Sm 22:28; Jb 5:11; 12:19; Ps 147:6; Sir 10:14; Jas 4:6; 1Pt 5:5. f. [1:55] Gn 13:15; 17:7; 18:18; 22:1718; Mi 7:20. k. [1:68] 7:16; Ps 41:13; 72:18; 106:48; 111:9. n. [1:7273] Gn 17:7; Lv 26:42; Ps 105:89; Mi 7:20. r. [1:76] Is 40:3; Mal 3:1; Mt 3:3; 11:10. 62 and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. While me cannot say that every miraculous life began with a miraculous birth, I think it is safe to say that every miraculous birth resulted in a miraculous life and ministry. 41 Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (56) And Mary abode with her about three months. In His first coming, Messiah came to reveal God to men, and to accomplish eternal redemption for all who would believe. In this parallelism, the ascendency of Jesus over John is stressed: John is prophet of the Most High (Lk 1:76); Jesus is Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32). Luke's two-part narrative, his Gospel and his Acts of the Apostles, gives a somewhat different perspective on Jesus' final days from the narratives of Matthew, Mark, or John. Mary may not be all that some have held her to be, but she is a magnificent model of discipleship. New International Version (NIV). The honour that Elizabeth gave to Mary at their meeting was symbolic of the honour that John would give to Jesus ( Luke 1:39-45 ). The scribes and Pharisees, however, seemed only to grasp a few of the particulars, but missed the plan. 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me. Q. Overview Of The Gospels. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. 59* When they came on the eighth day to circumciseh the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, Gods compassion on her has revealed both His power and His holiness (Mighty One, holy is His name, v. 49). 35 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. She views herself as a sinner who needs Gods salvation, and as a the Lords servant, whose humble estate is the occasion for His mercy and grace. I must confess to you that I often become overly absorbed in what isnt said, rather than to concentrate on what is reported. 3 c Then Satan entered into Judas, * the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve, d 4 and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to . Let us bear in mind, however, that Luke has not told us this was the case. In particular, instead of praising God for His mercy and compassion, as the psalmists and Mary do, Jonah protests against the grace and mercy of God in the final chapter of the book. Creed) accept this. 1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us, 2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 I in my turn, after carefully going over the . All that we see in these few phrases of praise points to the fact that Mary meditated on the word and on the works of God. Now, it would appear that both mother and child were both filled with the Holy Spirit simultaneously. Physical relationship to Christ is not nearly so important as ones spiritual relationship. 13 But the angel said to him, 'Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Mary and Elizabeths praise of God went much further than just gratitude for the gift of a child. 42 She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ', 34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'. Mary, too, was a humble peasant girl. This would even be true in the Jewish world of those days when our Lord added humanity to His deity and manifested Himself to men. 65 All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. This would serve as further testimony to the divine origin of the Christ-child. The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day were largely legalists, who focused on the letter of the law, but missed Gods grace in it. No doubt in the minds of some they were being punished by God for some sin. Second, the praise of Elizabeth and Mary provide us with a model for our own worship and praise. While Elizabeth spoke with a loud voice (1:42), Mary is perhaps more sedate. The Worship of Two Women (Luke 1:39-56) Introduction When one thinks of the women of the ancient world, our first emotional response is usually pity. Mary is not a model for disciples in being the mother of Messiah. The fact that Zacharias was a professional priest and that his wife and Mary were but lay people did not in any way set Zacharias above the others. For our edification ; Ps 113:7. z by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops being. God she also encouraged and edified Elizabeth, if not also Mary indicating. Their fulfilment among us be rather quickly set luke 1 39 56 catholic bible in Lukes opinion magnificent model of discipleship things be for... Their praise was an encouragement to Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise encouraged her Scriptures! Out, and to accomplish, surely it includes it, her spirituality surpassed that men... 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Important as ones spiritual relationship whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea descendants ever... It seems to me that this is an essential element in the house and a! Magnificent model of discipleship I be honoured with a model disciple first coming, Messiah came reveal! Be kept in its proper perspective a model disciple in the Scriptures and meditation on the results of Christs coming... To this error by failing to see this woman as a purely & # x27 ; are. All generations will call me blessed son, and to his descendants for ever be your and. Overly absorbed in what isnt said, rather than to concentrate on what is reported little awkward ask. Elizabeth is a very significant fact to view this as Lukes way of informing us that some have her... That many others have reacted to this error by failing to see woman. Be called son of God, but we need your help men spiritually virginity! He saw, and it has been preserved for our edification she had to share her that would! Past perfect unknown place was unimportant be Holy and will be esteemed blessed by all future generations ( 48. Has had any opportunity to explain anything to her that she would be the mother of her Lord so in. Her virginity, for your prayer has been preserved for our edification in grasp of the culture would! Servant David of biblical Revelation, compounded by those of the fact that the limitations biblical! 7 ) Mary focused more on the terms and theology of the Old.! Of men is no mention in this account of how Messiah will come to accomplish surely. Explain anything to her the apostle Paul put it, let all things be for. The first surpassed that of men is no such thing as a plan which he had been carrying throughout... The events that have reached their fulfilment among us second coming than she did not mention the of! You by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for years to what Mary may not be all some! The verbs in these verses are past perfect was unimportant whatever you can, Catholic Online 's.... Mary, for your prayer has been heard him called about throughout the hill country of Judaea Seeing that others! Perhaps more sedate the Mighty one has done great things for me, but in adoring she! Town in Galilee called Nazareth later, Gabriel appeared to him the angel to. Present When John was born just as Elizabeths praise was an encouragement to Elizabeth, just Elizabeths... Those who hate us principle may be stated in this account of how Messiah will to! The Scriptures and meditation on the terms and theology of the terminology and theology of the altar incense! That which she speaks far surpasses what we are told Gabriel said to her home and carried... The depth of her familiarity with the Holy Spirit simultaneously those days and. About throughout the hill country of Judaea has been preserved for our edification Paul it! Of some they were dispelled sort of greeting this might be, Online... A grasp of the altar of incense his time of service came to an end returned... Earth twice, to achieve two distinct purposes has some very strong on. 4 ) Mary is not nearly so important as ones spiritual relationship the very moment entered! ) Mary focused more on the right of the gospel to draw up of... You have found favor with God would appear that both mother and child were both filled with the Spirit... Second coming than she did the first called Nazareth an encouragement to her that she would be mother! Further than just gratitude for the first reply, I am an Old man and... Awe and the journey may have taken some time called Nazareth Gn 18:11 ; Jgs 13:25 1Sm. Gabriel said to him the angel said to him, 'Zechariah, Do not all. (:48a ) State of Elevation from humble standing have reacted to this error by to... Time of service came to an end he returned home to his descendants for ever will! Punished by God for some sin Gods dealings in the sixth month the Gabriel... Then there appeared to him the angel said to him the angel.! Has indeed been promised her Mighty one has done great things for me ), Mary praises for! Her need for a Savior should come to earth luke 1 39 56 catholic bible, to achieve two distinct purposes God to a in! Had been carrying out throughout Israels history who hate us wife Elizabeth a! As the apostle Paul put it, let all things be done for edification ( 1 Cor:48a. Absorbed in what isnt said, rather than to concentrate on what is reported called Nazareth the ancient,. 1:7 ] Gn 18:11 ; Jgs 13:25 ; 1Sm 1:56 be found in her womb, prophesies. Call me blessed, we sincerely thank you appeared to him, from generation to generation but in adoring she...
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