12/22/2024 -4th Sunday of Advent C

Meeting of Promise and Fulfilment 

Mary, shortly after the Annunciation, traveled from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth. This journey was approximately 90-100 miles long. Mary likely joined a caravan for safety and ease of travel, as it was uncommon for a young woman to travel alone. The route from Nazareth to the Judean hill country had two main options: The shorter trade route through the center of the region, which was strenuous and passed through Samaria. Mary must have taken the longer route through the flatter Jordan River Valley, which was about 90 miles long. The journey typically took 4-6 days, with travelers covering about 20 miles per day. Mary may have traveled on foot or ridden a donkey, which was a common mode of transportation at the time. The destination was likely Ein Karem, an idyllic village where the wealthier folks lived, about 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem, traditionally considered the birthplace of John the Baptist.

When these two mothers-to-be visited (Lk. 1: 40), two worlds met not worlds of space, but of time. Elizabeth, advanced in years, symbolized the approaching end of the Age of the Law and Prophets or The Old Testament. Her son John the Baptist would herald the new age of salvation which Israel had long awaited and which Mary now represented. Their sons’ careers would be as collaborators, not competitors. In the Visitation, Promise greeted Fulfilment, and both Mary and Elizabeth were inspired by the Holy Spirit and we have one of the most memorable conversations of the entire history of literature.

Though it was Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah’s house where they met, and Mary’s dignity was the greater, it was Mary who greeted Elizabeth, the juxtaposition overriding the cultural tradition brought afront the coming of the new kingdom of God. Mary bears Jesus, (Yahweh who saves) in her womb as in a sacred tabernacle and offers Him as the greatest gift to Zechariah, to Elizabeth, his wife, and also to the infant developing in her womb.

In his book, Hail, Holy Queen, Scott Hahn explains the connections that St. Luke makes to 2 Samuel 6. The following is an excerpt from that text under the title – “Heading for the Hills”: The story begins as David “arose and went” (2 Sam 6:2). Luke’s account of the visitation begins with the same words: Mary “arose and went” (1:39). In their journeys, then, both Mary and David proceeded to the hill country of Judah. David acknowledges his unworthiness with the words “How can the ark of the Lord come to me? (2 Sam 6:9) – words we find echoed as Mary approaches her kinswoman Elizabeth: “Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43). Note here that the sentence is almost verbatim, except that “ark” is replaced by “mother.” We read further that David “danced” for joy in the presence of the ark (2 Sam 6:14, 16), and we find a similar expression used to describe the leaping of the child within Elizabeth’s womb as Mary approached (Lk 1:44). Finally, the ark remained in the hill country for three months (2 Sam 6:11), the same amount of time Mary spent with Elizabeth (Lk 1:56). [Hail, Holy Queen, pg. 64]

So, why is all of this important and pertinent? First, there is the importance of The Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was the container made from acacia wood and then overlaid with gold within and without (Gen 37). The Ark would hold the tablets of the Ten Commandments (the ones Moses made; the first ones were destroyed by Moses at the foot of the mountain as described in Ex. 32:19), the manna from heaven; and the staff of Aaron (High Priest – Ex. 32:28; Lev 8-9) that budded. The staff was what the high priest carried. In the New Testament, we see that Mary is the fulfillment of the Ark of the Covenant. Mary, in her womb, carries the Word of God (Word Made Flesh), the bread of heaven (John 6: 41-51). Jesus is the New Bread from heaven, born in Bethlehem: the house of bread and the Royal High Priest (Jesus is the New King and High Priest). Mary is now the NEW Ark of the Covenant. Mary is the fundamental piece in bringing all of us closer to Jesus Christ just as she did for Elizabeth and the future St. John the Baptist who in turn points out Jesus at the Jordan River.

The Gospel story of the Visitation is a wondrous convergence of insignificance and portent. The secret encounter of these hitherto unknown women announces the future course not only of four lives, but of the entire world. To each one of us, the message this event announces is  that we are special and significant in the eyes of God to bring about His kingdom, each of us playing our role in a faith-led life of fidelity akin to that of Elizabeth, John the Baptist and Mary, the Mother of God. Fr Tom Kunnel, C.O