by Dr. Jacob Mathew, Chief Editor, Malankara World

We are into the third week of Syriac Orthodox Church Advent Season. This week, the church recalls St. Mary's visit of Elizabeth immediately following the annunciation and the word entering into her womb.

It was a very tiring journey through the hill country of Judah by foot. It is hard for a young pregnant girl to make that trip alone. Here is the problem: Only Mary knows that she is pregnant. She hasn't told anyone else - not even Joseph, with whom she is engaged. How does she explain how she got pregnant out of wedlock? She was afraid and anxious. She also could be a little depressed at what will happen when Joseph finds out that she is pregnant? Will he kick her out? Will she be stoned to death as the Jewish custom dictates? She just has to trust God.

Then she remembers the angel telling her that Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant. Elizabeth was advanced in her age - way above the child-bearing age; so this was clearly an act of God. Surely, she will understand Mary's situation. So, it is possible that Mary went there to get some support and comfort from Elizabeth - the only person she could confide with on her condition. So, she made a hasty decision to make that trip to Elizabeth's house.

There is also another possibility of why Mary made that trip.

Let us take a look at Luke 1:39-40

"Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town in Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth."

Mary could be going in haste to assist her elderly cousin Elizabeth in childbirth. Mary did not waste any time in offering charity when the Lord asked this of her. This is a good model for all of us to follow.

When the word entered her, Mary was transformed. God is now residing within her. Our first preference as Christians is to serve, not to be served - Jesus called this servant leadership. Mary goes to help Elizabeth. She knows that Elizabeth needs her help.

But God perhaps had another hidden plan. God knows what Mary is going through. God has to comfort her so that she is strong enough to face the ordeals of her pregnancy with confidence. Jesus, during His public ministry later, would remind his disciples that God often does things so we can understand His power manifested. The sick were not sick because they or their parents sinned like Pharisees claimed; but God used them as a vehicle to show the power of God by healing them. When the Israelites came to the shore of the red sea chased by the Pharoh, God did not part the sea till the last minute so the people can experience the power of God at work. There are many examples in bible where God uses occasions as a teaching moment.

So, we can surmise that, the baby in Mary, Jesus, prompted her to visit Elizabeth so as to hear from another independent source that Mary is carrying the Lord. So far, she only had the word of the angel. (That certainly was enough for Mary; but now this fact will be proclaimed to the world, for the first time, by the designated forerunner to Messiah, John the Baptist, while he was still in the womb of his mother!! Isn't that remarkable!! This was also a "revelation moment" to Elizabeth too. Remember Elizabeth did not know how she got pregnant in her advanced age. She knew, as a prayerful woman, that this was the work of God. There was no independent confirmation because the angel did not visit her. And Zachariah could not speak after hearing from the angel at the sanctuary. She learned some bits by his writing as an only means of communication.

So, this occasion was a teaching moment to Elizabeth also. She will learn, firsthand, that the baby she is carrying has a definite mission and her pregnancy was definitely from divine intervention.

Let us get back to the story.   Mary is in a hurry to visit Elizabeth. Why the haste? Mary is going to help Elizabeth. There is no time to waste. When we have an occasion to "serve", don't delay. I like Fr. Gary's reflection/meditation on this "hasty" visit:

"Where am I rushing in haste to? What are my priorities in life? What are the many things that I have to do this week? Am I doing these things for my family and friends? The question of our lives is -- am I in haste to do the will of Jesus Christ?

Perhaps I'm going very fast in life -- making much progress -- but in the wrong direction! Many use Christmas as an opportunity to acquire more stuff -- more and more. Some, for example, get updates on the latest electronic gadgets -- but it's never enough. Soon a new model comes out and we feel left behind.

Can I make some time for Christ? Even in this busy week, is there room for Christ in the end?"

This week is the Thanksgiving week in the US. We all know that the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, is known as the Black Friday, the largest shopping day in the US. People go crazy running from one shop to another to collect bargains. Some people will stand in line for days so they can be the first to get the best deals. Do you think anyone will wait like that to enter a church? Something to think about our priorities.

Let us get back to Mary's visit. She is now at the front door of Elizabeth's house.

Mary certainly was apprehensive of the kind of welcome Elizabeth would give her. She was worried what welcome she will get and how she was going to tell Elizabeth that she was pregnant. She knocked on the door. Of course, Elizabeth had no clue that Mary is coming. Those days there is no phone, no telegram or internet.

Elizabeth, on seeing Mary at the door, welcomed her warmly. Now another miracle happened. The bible says that the baby in her, John the Baptist - the forerunner to the Messiah, did his first task by making Elizabeth know that Mary is carrying the Lord in her. Elizabeth is seeing Mary as a different person, the mother of Lord!!

When Elizabeth saw Mary, she greeted her with those famous words, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!"

42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."
(Luke 1:42-45)

Especially noteworthy is that Elizabeth addressed Mary as 'the mother of my Lord.' We got our prayer, 'Hail Mary', from the address of Elizabeth to Mary.

When Mary heard those confirming words, she was comforted and strengthened. All the emotion and joy she was trying to conceal for several days now comes out. She broke out into a song. Mary's anxiety and tensions disappeared. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she delivers the Magnificat - one of the most beautiful poems in the bible talking about the old testament covenants of God and how they will be fulfilled and gives a glimpse of the coming kingdom of God. Magnificat is recited during our morning worship services on Sunday during the Kyomtha (Easter) period. In Malayalam it begins with, "Mariam Paranjathenthannal ...(This is what Mariam said...)" The words of her song are recorded in Luke 1:46-55.

The Song of Mary (Magnificat)

46 And Mary said:

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever."
- Luke 1:46-55

The Song of Mary is a Theological and Liturgical Masterpiece. For over 2,000 years it has been sung by Christians all over the world. We can write books meditating about it. When you read the Magnificat, remember that you are reading the words of the Old Testament through the eyes of a young girl who has been chosen by God to bring the Messiah into the world. She thanks God for keeping his covenants made to Abraham and his seed. Then she goes into a prophesy on the nature of the coming Kingdom of God.

So, magnificat can be broken into two parts (or stanzas). The first stanza comprises verses 46-50 and second stanza consists of verses 51-55.

Dr. Ray Pritchard explains:

In stanza one, Mary is reflecting on what it means to her to be chosen to bear the Messiah. She is praising God for his great mercy to her personally. Her words are personal and her point of view is turned inward.

In stanza two, Mary seems to fade from view; she is praising God for the effects the coming of Christ will have on the world. Her point of view is outward and her words are global in their scope.

Finally, we can observe the two stanzas by noting that each one ends with a reference to God's mercy (vv. 50 & 54).

We had pointed out many times in Malankara World that one of the quality God cherished in Mary was her humility. We also said that God picks ordinary people to do extraordinary things. The first stanza of Magnificat is a testament to Mary's humility. Dr. Pritchard continues:

In verses 46-48 Mary praises God because he has chosen her to bear the Messiah, despite her lowly estate. Verse 48 is the key: "For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." The word "humble" refers to her age, her background, her economic condition, her lack of social standing. In short, Mary is astounded that God would choose her of all people to bear the Messiah. "Why me, O Lord, when you could have had one of the rich girls from Jerusalem?" She's just a poor Jewish girl - one among thousands. In all of Israel there was no one less likely. Mary is overwhelmed by the thought that she has been chosen by God.

- If God had wanted wealth for his Son, he could have arranged it.

- If God had wanted power for his Son, it would have been done.

- If God had wanted Jesus to be born in the lap of luxury, he had only to say the word.

- If God had wanted Jesus to be born in the upper class, he had hundreds of homes to choose from.

- If God had wanted education, or elite schooling, or the proper social connections, or any of the other things men usually associate with success, it would have been done.

God didn't have to do it that way! That's the wonder of Christmas.

It is a statement about the sovereign grace of God. Mary is really saying, "Lord, there was no reason for you to choose me." It was a choice made in pure grace. There was nothing about Mary that recommended her to God. Yes, she was obviously godly, but so were many other girls her age. Mary is saying, "I know you chose me because of your mercy. You didn't choose me because of my education, or my background, or because of my parents, or because of my high standing in society." Mary is praising God because he chose her despite all the things that made the world overlook her.

He chose a poor peasant girl when he could have had any girl he wanted to be the mother of the Messiah. That's what Mary can't get over. If it had fallen to her by lot, she would be grateful but the honor would not be the same. But it didn't happen by chance or circumstance. Mary was not the last choice after everyone else said "no." Mary was God's first choice. No, stronger than that. Mary was God's only choice.

And isn't that just like God to choose the most unlikely girl for the greatest privilege any woman would ever know? No wonder Mary says, "From now on all generations will call me blessed." She didn't know how true that statement was. After 2000 years we are still talking about Mary. Outside of Elizabeth, can you name even one other mother who lived in Israel in Mary's day? The rest are all forgotten, but Mary is remembered forever.

That's the first stanza of the Magnificat.

In the second stanza, Mary talks about the coming Kingdom of God. We wont go into that except to say that the ideas Mary talked about were very revolutionary for that time. This is long before Karl Marks talked about Communism. Dr. E. Stanley Jones, the great Methodist scholar, said that the Magnificat was "the most revolutionary document in the history of the world." However, years before Dr. Jones made that statement, William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury, instructed his missionaries to India never to read the Magnificat in public when unbelievers were present. Why? Because in a country like India with all its poverty, this portion of Scripture, if taken out of context, would cause nothing but trouble!

Dr. Pritchard concludes:

If the Bible teaches anything, it is that God is on the side of the poor. He's not the God of the rich; he's the God of the poor. He's on their side because nobody else is. He takes up their cause because no one else will. He fights their battles because nobody else will fight for them. He lavishes special attention on them because the rest of the world neglects them.

The same is true for the hungry, the hurting, the homeless, the discouraged, the depressed, the handicapped and the lonely. God is on their side too, because if he doesn't stick up for them, who will?

Mary's heart is filled with praise, because she knows the world will be a different place because Christ has come. He will pull down the proud. He will lift up the humble. He will fill the hungry. And the rich will be sent away empty. This is the ultimate reversal of fortune. ...

What's the overall message of the Magnificat? If you put the two stanzas together, it comes out like this: God works in the same way all the time. When Mary was praising God that he chose her in spite of her lowly status, she was showing the pattern that God always follows. He shows mercy to those who don't deserve it, he chooses the lowly over the proud, he finds the hungry and fills them, and the rich of the world are sent away empty. He always keeps his promises even though it means reversing the false values of human society. These two stanzas are really saying the same thing, only from different perspectives. Mary is Exhibit A of the way God works. She is the symbol of what the second stanza is talking about.

The importance of the Magnificat is covered in depth in our St. Mary Supplement in Malankara World as well as in the previous editions of Malankara World Journal. The hyperlinks are provided elsewhere in this issue.

What makes this 'visitation' so special is that God is using this visit to teach different things to different people. Mary learns the importance of 'service or discipleship' - a big theme of Jesus. She receives confirmation, without any doubt through the intervention of Holy Spirit, that she is indeed carrying the Lord. Elizabeth learns that her pregnancy is definitely through divine intervention. The baby she is carrying is special and has a definite mission - more of that mission will be declared by Zachariah when the baby will be born as we will learn later. So, this was a teaching moment to everyone concerned.

We hope all of you had a happy thanksgiving. Please remember that the Yeldo Lent begins on Dec 1 for those taking the 25 day lent and on Dec 15 for those who follow the Syriac Christian tradition.

Next week, we will celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. Christmas is getting closer!! Do your hear Christmas Bells ringing?