Year C December 20

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55).

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (42-43a)

A figure like Elijah, John drew the attention of the people by his lifestyle and his message. He was an outstanding and charismatic figure - but the gospel is not about John. It is about Jesus. John may have arrived first, but the story is about Jesus.

One wonders about the importance of this text - and the purpose it serves.
Here we learn of the visit of Mary to Elizabeth. The recent movie "The Nativity" depicts Mary's flight to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth as a flight from the eyes of her small town neighbours, and a response to the unusual circumstances in which she was placed. The Gospel of Matthew includes Joseph's response to the pregnancy of his betrothed, and his desire to end the betrothal quietly so as not to endanger Mary's life. There we get a hint of the social disapproval of adultery which the natural mind would assume was the cause of Mary's condition. Luke avoids mentioning the stigma and the devastating social impacts upon Mary, Joseph and their families. Instead we simply read that she visits her cousin in the hill country, far from the prying eyes and wagging tongues of her home village.

Luke's specific intent may be seen if we take the time to examine the parallels and subtle differences in the birth narratives of John and Jesus.

Both births were miraculous in their own way.
John was the first born child of an elderly couple who seemed to be past child bearing age. Jesus was the immaculately conceived child of a virgin.
We read that at the approach of the pregnant Mary the unborn John leaps in response to his presence. Both are unborn, yet it is John who responds to Jesus. This may simply be the advanced stage of Elizabeth's pregnancy (indicating that John is older than Jesus) but the peculiar timing of his movement hints at something more.
Both mothers offer praise, but we observe that Elizabeth identifies Mary as blessed and lauds her. In contrast Mary praises God.

A subtle distinction has been made by Luke. John is subordinate to Jesus. He may have been a little older, but he was not the one this story is about. It was thus at the time of their birth, and was to be so throughout his ministry.

We are caused to ponder the significance of this aspect of the text. Why include such an apparently mundane encounter in his story of Jesus?
One possibility is that some of John's disciples still clung to him and his teaching, and were trying to influence others to see John as the great prophet and martyr of their time. It is possible. There are indications throughout the gospel that John had his own disciples. It is not unreasonable that some clung fast to his teaching. He was, after all, an imposing and amazing figure in his time. Such a view would reflect the audience for whom Luke wrote - his contemporaries who knew about the ministry and reputations of John and Jesus.

Another possibility is that it is there for our times. Through the history of the church there have been many charismatic leaders who have attracted their followers - people like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, William Booth, Billy Graham to name just a few. Those who have been profoundly influenced by their ministry readily focus on their words. Sometimes those words become the lens through which we read the Scriptures. Perhaps we need to look more closely at this text. Each of those individuals have been people who proclaimed clearly and decisively the message of Jesus for their time. They have pointed people to Jesus, and encouraged them to recognize him and Lord and Saviour, and follow his teaching. Jesus has been preeminent in their lives.

It is easy for us to focus on a good thing, and miss he best. John was a great man of God, but Jesus is Son of God and Saviour.

The gospel is about Jesus. He is preeminent.
As Christians live their lives Jesus is the one to be worshipped and followed. He is to be preeminent.
As Christians share their stories Jesus is the one who must receive recognition and glory. He is number one.
Let it be so.


Other readings:

Jeremiah 33:14-16;
Psalm 25:1-10;
1 Thess. 3:9-13