Mary and her Auntie Elizabeth

 

As my mind wandered from reading Forward Day by Day today (FDD Thursday Dec 19, 2024) on John the Baptizer and how prophecy can be uncomfortable I ended up re-reading the story of Mary, Elizabeth, and the unusual prophecy and birth stories of John the Baptizer and Jesus in the first chapter of Luke. My first thought was something of why does the NRSV bible not claim a specific relationship between Mary and Elizabeth? I always remembered them as "cousins". After checking all the print Bible versions in the house, I only found one, The New Jerusalem Bible, that used the word "cousin" for the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth.

But, as I reread the story in the first chapter of Luke, what struck me today was the wonder and power of Mary having Auntie Elizabeth to visit and stay with. I am using “auntie” in the sense of an older, perhaps mother-like female in a person’s life. Regardless of the “blood” relationship between Mary and Elizabeth (it appears clear they were related) there looks to be a true “auntie” relationship of love and support of Mary by Elizabeth. Not only does this fulfil the biblical stories and prophecies, but it also shows, again, our Lord's support of the marginalized and downtrodden. We all need support like this in our life, especially during our more difficult times. And we are all called to give this support to others, regardless of relationship or gender. 

Advent Week 1: Sunday - "Anticipation"

No, not the ketchup ad... but the first verse of the Carly Simon song "Anticipation" says it well:

• We can never know about the days to come
• But we think about them anyway
• And I wonder if I'm really with you now
• Or just chasin' after some finer day

Advent is our season of anticipation as we wait for God's arrival here on earth. We are not the first to wait in anticipation. We may sometimes wonder about our waiting, possibly even begin to lose heart. Think about Zechariah in Luke 1:7 "But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years." Zechariah had been praying, it must be for years, but at that time if I were Zechariah I think I would have given up anticipating having a baby with my wife. God, however, had other plans. God sent an angel saying "Your prayer has been heard... Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will name him John..."

Just as Zechariah and Elizabeth's pregnancy is just the beginning, so this Sunday is just the beginning of our time of anticipation. We don't know if our lives will be upended like Zechariah's, Elizabeth's, Mary's, and Joseph's lives were upended. But this year our lives are upended. We didn't plan on our lives being upended any more than Zecharia expected to hear he was going to be a father, then get told that just because he didn't immediately believe this unbelievable news that he would be mute for the next nine months and eight days...

Let us not be "just chasin' after some finer day", let us spend time with our Lord as we prepare for His arrival on Christmas...

A Prayer: Lord thank you for today, and thank you for the year we have had since the start of last Advent. Help us to accept our lives as they are and give us courage to listen to You. Amen.