[Advent] The Peace of Elizabeth

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-45

Pregnancy and childbirth are no walk in the park under normal circumstances for a woman in her young and vigorous “childbearing years.” 

But for Elizabeth, who was already a barren senior citizen with no children and had a newly mute husband to boot (see last week’s post about Zechariah), it would make sense for her gestation period to be anything but full of peace.

And yet, that’s what she brought to Mary – another  newly-pregnant-under-wildly-strange-circumstances woman.

An angel had prophesied the birth of Elizabeth’s son in her old age, a son who would become John the Baptist and prepare the world for the Messiah. Soon after, her cousin Mary was also visited by an angel who told her that she would become the mother of that Messiah.

When the angel also described the miracle happening in Elizabeth’s womb, Luke tells us that Mary hurried to visit Elizabeth. Mary seemed to look up to Elizabeth. I imagine, as much as her words communicated that she trusted the angel’s message, she may have wanted to see it for herself. 

What Elizabeth shares as she greets Mary demonstrates her own resilient faith, and a sense of peace that God’s plans were perfect. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit – able to recognize and affirm God’s work in Mary even before Mary spoke a word: “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (v. 43).

Elizabeth’s words provided the first human validation of the miracle of the Incarnation. I can only imagine how Mary was comforted by her cousin’s empathy and understanding of her situation.

Elizabeth’s voice validated the most important message.

Her spontaneous, loud declaration: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:42). Her confirmation of the angel’s words must have given Mary courage. Elizabeth’s deep faith literally bolstered the mother of the Messiah – likely in the moments she needed it most.

Our Own Ready to Speak Reflection

How does faith prepare us to recognize God’s activity in the lives of others, and how can our words – like Elizabeth’s to Mary – bring peace to those who need it most?

Listening to Peace

Hymn: My Soul Magnifies the Lord (The Magnificat) 

In Scripture, Elizabeth’s spontaneous blessing immediately precedes and inspires Mary’s Magnificat. We can see how her peace spread to Mary – allowing Jesus’ mother to bless God’s work in her. In this version, hear the Aramaic she would have spoken alongside English lyrics.

Song: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

This song focuses on the message of Peace brought by the angels. Elizabeth’s voice validates the message of the Incarnation, providing the first human confirmation and affirmation of God’s plan, linking directly to the theme of celestial peace being shared with humanity.