On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
The Mother of Jesus is for Christians the New Jerusalem, the "Daughter Zion" who shouts for joy and exults with all her heart. We discover her joy especially in Luke 1 as she visits her cousin Elizabeth. The older woman's greeting and her song, the Magnificat, describe their ecstasy upon greeting one another.
It's fascinating how often we find Mary in Jerusalem: 1) she visits Elizabeth; 2) she and Joseph present the child on his fortieth day; 3) they find the twelve year old in the temple, 4) she is there just outside the city on Calvary, and 5) she is with the disciples at Pentecost. Though she is also seen in Galilee, Bethelehem, Cana, and the sky (!), Mary frequents Jerusalem most often, a cosmopolitan woman.
These women know something which the world cannot imagine. It begins with the "ordinary miracle" of pregnancy, which might be regarded by an old celibate like me as something entirely too common until I pause to consider the wonder of a human being born of another human being. How is it possible that God gives such power and authority to us as to create human beings with all their fascination, strangeness, and curiosity? We know of no other creature in the universe remotely similar to a human baby. Shouldn't that prerogative belong exclusively to the Creator? With that, Elizabeth and Mary already know something "the world" cannot comprehend.
But they know also the astonishing mystery of their fertility, an old woman and a virgin will have sons. Romans, who were notoriously superstitious as their own historians admit, might have made something of their story had they known of it. But the powerful -- the emperor, his governors, procurators, and centurions -- couldn't be bothered with unusual births.
At this moment in our story, only Mary and Elizabeth know what is happening, that the long desired of nations is about to appear.
Many people today are hoping and praying that the several vaccines for Covid-19 will be effective. They hope we might soon get back to normal, if anyone can remember what normal was. Was that before the impeachment trial; the separation of immigrant children from their parents: or when presidents appointed secretaries of government offices and the Senate confirmed them? When excited parents announced the good news of unborn children? When spouses were faithful to their partners and children? How long ago was that?
The normal we long for is yet to appear in human history. It will begin when the nations hear Saint John's voice in the wilderness and come out to him to be baptized in repentance. It will begin as the nations recognize the Son of Mary by his Crown of Thorns as the King, Lord, Messiah, and Savior.
On that day we will rejoice with Mary and Elizabeth in the birth of their sons. Today we share their happy expectation.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.