READINGS

Luke 1:39-45 - Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth Exodus 12:11 - The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread 1 Samuel 21:8 - David at Nob Isaiah 7:11 - The Sign of Immanuel Malachi 4:2 - Judgment and Covenant Renewal

HOMILY

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah

Here the word 'hurried' means with haste, and the greek word is the same by which the Lord instructs the people to eat the Passover on the night before they flee from Egypt, with haste (Exodus 12:11).

So Luke is telling not just the symbolic passover but the real thing that is about to start.

There is also a mention to this same word when king David, before becoming king, has an interaction with the priest of Nob called Ahimelech and gets to eat the bread of the presents in the temple, even though it's holy and reserved for the priests.

When the priest questions whether this should be done and whether he can be lent some arm to defend himself against what is to come. David said to him:

1 Samuel 21:8 - David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was URGENT (required HASTE).”

So here we have the Virgin Mary bearing the Davidic heir (she herself is of the family of David) and she is going with haste, because it is the King's business.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The verb 'leaped' in greek is the same verb as David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant.

When David welcomes the ark into Jerusalem, he strips down to his long cloth and dances before it.

So here we have John beginning his role as foreteller, the one who is to prepare the way, which had been foretold in Malachi 4:2.

42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry

'loud cry' is the same verb as when the levites made music as they welcomed the ark into their presence.

“Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!

This is the double blessing to indicate something comes from the Lord.

43 How could this happen to me, that the MOTHER OF MY LORD should come to me?

This would be a strange thing to recognize, unless we read Isaiah 7:11.

10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: 11 “Ask for a sign of the MOTHER OF THE LORD your God—it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.”

12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.”

13 Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God?

14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: See, the virgin will conceive,[d] have a son, and name him Immanuel

So the sign the Ahaz has refused to ask for was announced by Isaiah is being fulfilled in person.

44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby LEAPED FOR JOY inside me.

Here we come back to Malachi 4:2:

2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in HER wings, and you will go out and PLAYFULLY JUMP LIKE CALVES from the stall.

So Mary, pregnate with Jesus, is the son of righteousness. The healing in ther wings, the one who is also talked about by Micah, is coming in.

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

They are acting out major fulfillments. It's not only the pregnancies, it's the fact that it's the final coming of the one who Malachi and Isaiah had prophesied.