Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
ELIZABETH –SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Mary stayed
with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. (Luke 1:56)
There are several significant persons such as
Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, Herod, Zechariah and Elizabeth and groups such as
angels, shepherds, wise men, and grieving mothers identified in the Christmas
narratives in the gospel of Luke. Mary
is the central figure in the Advent narratives related to the birth of Jesus.
The Song of Mary is frequently sung or spoken liturgically in Christian church
services. The other well-known
personality in the Christmas story is her cousin Elizabeth and the mother of
John the Baptist. Having received the
annunciation from the Angel (Luke 1:26-38), Mary visits Elizabeth, the wife of
the famous priest Zechariah.
Why did Mary visit Elizabeth and stay with her
during the last trimester of her pregnancy?
There could be several reasons for the visit. Mary, a young teenager was carrying a baby
before the consummation of her marriage with Joseph. It could be that Mary could not hide her
pregnancy any more and visited her to get some prenatal care or advice as
Elizabeth was also carrying the promised child. Another reason may be that
Mary wanted some physical protection from her community. The pregnancy of an
unwed teenager was not tolerated in the village cultural tradition in which
Mary grew up. Or it could be that Mary wanted some spiritual reinforcement and
encouragement because Elizabeth was a seasoned person with a good reputation
in the community. All of these could be
the reasons for Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.
She was
certainly a source of encouragement in Mary’s life at a very critical time. We
may be dedicated Christians and active members of the Church but at times we
need to see, interact or listen to someone whom we can trust and spend quality
time with confidence and assurance that this person encouraging words to help
us stay focused in our life journey. Secondly, Elizabeth was an
encourager. Imagine the predicament of
a young person like Mary pregnant with a child without adequate social and
religious support! Elizabeth served as a confidant of Mary and encouraged her
to fulfill the will of God for the salvation of the entire universe.
We, as Christians, have access to Scriptures,
and significant persons like the priests, evangelists, teachers and prayer
partners to help us in times of special needs.
Sometimes, we also need to become like Elizabeth as a source of
encouragement and encourager to others who might come to us for help. And at
times we also need to seek and consult with persons like Elizabeth for
inspiration and guidance in order to fulfill the will of God.
Prayer: Help us, O God, to seek encouragement from
others as Mary did and offer encouragement to others as Elizabeth did as we
celebrate your coming into the world at this Advent Season and all other
seasons of life. Amen