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The ornaments to print out for the Jesse Tree
Understanding the Jesse Tree

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist
Luke 1:39-56 (NRSV)

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

An amazing thing happened to Elizabeth.  She, who was thought to be barren, was now pregnant and it is all overshadowed by a greater event that happened to Mary.  That even on its own would be something significant enough and yet it only gets a few lines in the Bible when Mary comes and visits her.  The angel Gabriel did not go to Elizabeth, but to her husband, Zachariah, and yet she was carrying St. John the Baptist who would announce the Messiah.  I reflect on that reality not to feel bad for Elizabeth for being in the background of the story, but as an example for all of us in our relationship with the work of God in our midst.  God rarely acts in isolation.  Instead, he works in community, and it usually involves a lot of people.  With the coming of Jesus, we see the number of people involved at various levels to make something great happen.  That is true in a family, in a parish, and in a society.  Elizabeth had her role to play in salvation history, and though it was a small one, it was a part that supported something greater.  Anyone who tries to be an instrument of God knows this feeling well because in the end, it is God who works, who should get all the glory, and His disciples, you and me, only participate in that great plan of His.  Too many times we think that it was all our work, that we were the ones doing the great thing and deserve the thanks from others.  We might even get a bit upset if we are not thanked or not acknowledged for our participation in making something happen.  We need to recognize that the good that happens comes from God and without Him, we can do nothing.  The hymn of Mary speaks of her lowliness and humility knowing that it is God who has done the good work and she is only the helper in His work.  Elizabeth too plays her part in the plan of God.  In one sense, Mary and Elizabeth are equal in God’s eyes because both women did what they were called to do by God to the fullest they were asked.  The world is impressed by bigger but God is impressed by the “yes” as our response for what is asks of us.  Our goal is to say “yes” to God in the work we are asked to do for Him regardless of how big or small it is as the world sees it.

Mary had a cousin named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was unable to have children but God did a miracle in her. He allowed her to become pregnant. She too would have a special baby. The baby she was carrying would be a messenger to the people. His messages would prepare the way for the savior. He would be called John the Baptist and his job was to point people to Jesus.  Mary went to tell her cousin the exciting news about her baby and when she did, the baby Elizabeth was carrying (John) leaped inside of her. Elizabeth was amazed at the miraculous ways they saw God working out His promised plan.

Discuss how one might know what God is calling him or her to do.  Talk about how each person is called by God to add his or her voice, talent, and skill to the work of God in the world.  What difference would it make if everyone responded that way to God?  What difference does it make in the life who responds that way?