Reflection on Luke 1:39-40
Fourth Sunday of Advent C
Fr. Kenneth Ahanonu
The Gospel passage (Lk 1:39-45) presents us with two women. Very glaringly is the joy they exhume. One is Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The other is Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
Mary had a vision in which angel Gabriel appeared to her and delivered a message from God. That message is that she would conceive a baby by the power of the Holy Spirit; not any kind of baby but the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. In the cause of delivering the message, the angel also informed her that Elizabeth her relative, an elderly woman who has been baren all through her life, was then pregnant for six months. What a joy for the young Mary? What good news for someone you love. The Word of God says that Mary travelled in haste to Judah to see Elizabeth.
Although Elizabeth was an elderly woman, she had never conceived before. Perhaps, she had lost hope as far as giving birth to a baby is concerned. We can imagine her difficulty. It was at that time that Mary came visiting. Mary stayed with her for three months, helping her, providing for her.
Mary is always available to the needy. We remember her intercession with Jesus when wine was lacking at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. The Blessed mother Mary goes off her way to locate and assist those in need. Here lies the importance of that very beautiful prayer – the memorare:
“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.”
This prayer is very efficacious. We are always in need of Mary’s intercession and companionship. As she was there for Elizabeth, so is she always disposed to assist us in our various needs; in our difficulties, in sickness, those who are homebound, the pregnant women, whatever our situation may be. We are all represented by the person of Elizabeth.
As Mary visited Elizabeth with joy, so also did Elizabeth receive her with joy. The word of God says that on hearing Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Her joy was so great that the baby in her womb was totally infested with joy. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she pronounced these very beautiful words that millions of people repeat everyday while praying that very beautiful prayer, the Hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
The joyful scene in the encounter between the Blessed Virgin Mary and Elizabeth in this historic visit is one of the best scenes the human mind can imagine. Yet, our mother Mary is always there to encounter us in our needs and situations. How joyful are we in embracing her as Elizabeth did? When we pray the rosary and the Hail Mary, we are renewing that Joy of the Two Women and we are making it our own.
