Fourth Wednesday in Advent (O Virgo Virginum)

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be?  For neither before you was there any seen like you, nor shall there be after.  Daughters of Jerusalem, why do you marvel at me?  The thing which you behold is a divine mystery.

2 Samuel 7:1-17; Titus 2:11-3:8a; Luke 1:39-56

It’s another day for strong, fierce women.  Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, is a hidden fulcrum in the nativity story.  Gabriel announces John’s birth to Zechariah, but he doesn’t get it.  Elizabeth gets it: she conceives, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit.  She speaks as a prophet, transforming Mary’s flight from home into a joyful reception and acknowledgment of her holy child.  She is the first human to announce Jesus’ arrival among us.

Imagine what it took to be Elizabeth.  For years she would have been scorned as a “barren” woman.  She would have no children to care for, or to care for her.  Now she is suddenly pregnant.  This may be joyful, but it might also have raised eyebrows and invited speculation.  She probably knew the dangers for older women at first births, and she might have seen some of the children born to older mothers and worried.  She might have been terrified as well as joyful.

She might also have resented her young cousin.  Now, after all these years, she is pregnant - and pregnant with a holy child, announced by Gabriel!  And here comes Mary, who got her own visit and who has heard that her child will be higher than Elizabeth’s.  If Elizabeth was an envious woman, she might have been envious here.

But Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.  She faces into the challenge of giving birth, and she rejoices at Mary’s scandalous news.  She knows the whole story, and she lets Mary know she’s not crazy or alone.  She opens Mary’s heart to her full stature.  Mary may pronounce the Magnificat (although some manuscripts ascribe it to Elizabeth), but Elizabeth opens the door for her to see what God is doing.

It takes a village to raise a Savior.

Thank God today for the partners and companions who have helped you claim your gifts and strengths, and enabled you to face the challenges of life.  Let them know you know, and thank them.