This 4th Sunday of Advent brings to us a remarkable array of images, symbols, beauty and poetry with the now impregnated Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. One is really too young to be pregnant and the other too old. Sterile and barren Elizabeth in her old age, married to the priest Zechariah, is now surprisingly pregnant. Though young and unmarried, Mary responds with her 'fiat,' agreeing to let it be according to God's Word, as Gabriel interrupts her life with the news of God's favor resting on her. Life in the womb, from conception and beyond- a pro-life statement woven into the poetry of this account.

Mary goes in haste to see Elizabeth, an 80 mile trip, 30 hours of walking.  She needs someone with whom to share the news, or maybe she is afraid or overwhelmed, or in need of guidance. Whatever her motives, she needs someone familiar in the midst of strange new circumstances.  Notice she does not go to her mother, Anna, or Joseph or a girlfriend around the corner or the temple. We can guess any number of reasons she chooses her cousin. What she wants is assurance, hospitality and hope in the midst of her humble circumstances where she is the topic of gossip, pregnant and not married.

Who would you go to in the same or similar circumstances?

Who has come to you in need of hospitality and hope?

1st century Jews would not miss the symbols and writings of long ago when the minor prophet Micah would prophesy that out of Bethlehem would come the Messiah. This is the town of David. It is the place where the ark of the covenant, so special to the Jews, is taken from and brought into Jerusalem. David dances wildly in front of the ark as it is carried into Jerusalem with such joy (2 Samuel 6:14-18). The ark contained the remnants of the Ten Commandments, some manna and the rod of Aaron. In a sense, the ark carried the very presence of God.

Now pay attention. Mary’s womb is the new ark! Jesus is the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments with a new covenant sealed by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Bread of Life fulfilling the manna’s role of bread in the desert and Jesus is the new high priest like Aaron. In the midst of this visit, who dances but John the baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Like David he dances before the ark as Elizabeth feels it in her womb and exclaims, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Let us attend to these clusterings of meanings and all the poetry of this encounter and do as David and John, dance and leap for joy. In this Biblical account we encounter an attitude of humility, hospitality and hope.

Let’s dance!

+Philip