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,
“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.”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.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.
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.This story of the visitation is so full of typology, that I could write 10 pages about it, But we will try to stick to the highlights.
What makes this moment so incredibly amazing is its close relation to the history of the ark of the covenant and the Presence of the Lord in the old testament. The ark was where the Presence of the Lord would reside when the jews were wandering in the desert for 40 years. By day the Shekina Cloud would lead them through the desert, and at night a pillar of fire. But when they camped the Pressence would retreat into the ark.
When the temple was finally built the ark was moved into the inner sanctum of the temple behind the veil, where it resided for centuries, until the ark was stolen by the invading Babylonians. Eventually David recovered the ark and returned it to Jerusalem. When the ark was finally found, David said “who am I that the ark of the Lord should come to me?” Then we have the unfortunate incident with Uziah, touching the ark and dying. So in reparation, David decides to send the ark into the hill country while he prepares a proper reception of the ark into Jerusalem, this is the same hill country where Elizabeth and Zecchariah resided in todays reading. And then when David finally brings the ark into Jerusalem, he dances and leaps before it. Does this sound at all familiar? If not, you need to re-read todays reading.
Later in Ezekiel, before the temple is destroyed the first time, the presence of the Lord leaves the ark and the temple completely, never to return, for centuries. Even after they built a new temple, the presence of the lord never returned. Elizabeth and John represent the new david receiving the ark in the hill country. And in an upcoming chapter, Mary will ultimately bring the infant Jesus back into the temple, thus returning the presence of the Lord, and completing the temple’s full restoration.
The typology here is remarkable, and it shows us how everything is connected between the old and new testaments. It shows that God has been planning His return, and our salvation from the very moment we fell, if not well before. We should reflect on the never ending love of God, and His plan for us. We should also reflect on Mary, and this beautiful story of a faithful young girl trusting completely in the Lord, and the adults in her life recognizing how big of a thing that was.
It cannot be understated how important Mary’s yes was. and how the salvation of the world pivoted on that decision. Today let us reflect on Mary’s yes, and what God might be calling us to do today…, are you ready to say yes?
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh Lord, Let us hope that when you call us, that we too can have the faith and courage to say yes in the same way.