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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 1 - HISTORICAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRIST'S BIRTH (Luke 1:5 - 2:52)

3. Mary's Visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)


LUKE 1:39-45
39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

The Virgin Mary turned with her overflowing heart to her compassionate elder friend, to confide her secret and to seek encouragement for her faith by praying with her, since she was unable to tell any body in her town, Nazareth, about her miracle. She was thankful to the angel who showed her a way out of her trouble. So she hastened away to Elizabeth who lived in a town near Jerusalem, 100 kilometers away from her hometown of Nazareth. The Holy Spirit confirmed to Mary her obedience of faith and comforted her when she arrived at the house of the priest. At the same time, he revealed to the elderly Elizabeth the significance of this greatest of all miracles before the virgin revealed her secret. The priest’s wife became filled with the Holy Spirit who gave her the power of prediction and revealed to her secrets that would not come to the human mind.

The prophetic spirit led Elizabeth’s tongue to utter a wonderful salutation to Mary who had greeted her using the customary tokens of affectionate salutation. Elizabeth was not alone in hearing those words, which were filled with the power of God, but her baby also leaped joyfully, for John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb and was able to recognize that Christ, the incarnate divine Spirit, was at hand. The Holy Spirit does not need human ears, eyes and senses to know and witness. He feels immediately with unperceivable depths and reveals secrets that are beyond our understandings. Through the apparent power of the Spirit, Elizabeth immediately knew the secrets of Mary without being informed by anybody.

Now, the power of God exploded through the words of the prophetess. She cried out and the Spirit of God testified through her saying, “You, young Mary, are greater than I am. You are not great in yourself, but the glory of your baby lights you and his blessings make you more blessed than all women.” Yet, these blessings were not of her but of her child, the stream of all blessings.

Elizabeth immediately called Jesus Lord, for the Holy Spirit revealed to her that God the Lord dwelt in Mary. She trembled in her heart because of her approach to God, for the Holy Spirit in her sensed his union with the Son. The great old woman bowed before the humble virgin for the Holy Spirit reveals secrets to the believer who opens himself to his leading. The angel from heaven revealed to Elizabeth the essential worthiness of Mary through which she became an example to us. The Virgin believed unconditionally the word of God. Through her obedience of faith, the things which were impossible became possible. This is her honor, privilege and right. Mary’s faith was the door through which the Son of God came to our evil world.

Today, your faith is the means by which Christ prevails in you and around you. Do you follow the mother of Jesus with faith like hers?

Then you will hear the same words that Elizabeth told Mary: that what God had already said would be done. You do not have to do God’s will in your weakness. He will complete it through your obedience to his will. So let the Holy Spirit release you from your doubts, sins and personal ambitions. Be firm in the trust, chastity and power of your Lord. Adhere to Christ so that he may let his Spirit flow in you as the juice of the vine flows into the branches creating leaves and fruits. Blessed is he who believes and becomes united with Christ with the bond of love in his heart. This is the first beatification in the Holy Bible.

PRAYER: Holy Lord, we worship you because you move believers with your Spirit as you wish, preparing their ways and revealing to them your secrets. Forgive us all tattling, backbiting and perjury; and help us to live in purity and truthfulness in the communion of saints.

QUESTION 15: Why did Elizabeth beatify Mary?

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