Luke 1:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Truly He has loosed her barrenness, a supernatural gift He has bestowed upon her, and the unfruitful rock has produced the green blade. He has taken away her disgrace, in that He has made her to bring forth. Hence it follows: In the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Elizabeth, in her purity, felt a sense of shame, and when she became pregnant in her later years, she chose to remain quiet for five months until Mary also became with child. However, upon hearing the child stir in her womb, she lost her sense of shame and embraced her role with confidence, recognizing herself as the mother of a son who was honored with the prophetic calling even before his birth.

What reason then for concealment, except shame? For there are certain allowed times in wedlock, when it is becoming to attend to the begetting of children; while the years thrive, while there is hope of child-bearing. But when in good time old age has come on, and the period of life is more fitted for governing children, than begetting them, it is a shame to bear about the signs of pregnancy, however lawful. It is a shame to be laden with the burden of another age, and for the womb to swell with the fruit of not one’s own time of life.

He willingly removed from me the shame in the eyes of others, which stemmed from my inability to bear children. Among the Jews, this shame was seen as physical infertility, while for Christians, it was viewed as spiritual desolation, reflecting a deeper spiritual emptiness.

And therefore he says, Five months, that is, until Mary should conceive, and her babe leaping with joy should prophesy.

During the time of their course, the priests of the temple were so occupied by their office, that they kept themselves not only from the society of their wives, but even from the very threshold of their houses. Hence it is said, And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days were accomplished, &c. For as there was then required a priestly succession from the root of Aaron, of necessity then a time was appointed for keeping up the inheritance. But as now not a carnal succession, but spiritual perfection, is looked for, the priests are enjoined (in order that they might ever be able to serve the altar) the perpetual observance of chastity. It follows: But after those days, &c. that is, after the days of Zacharias’s ministration were completed.

"Come and remove my shame before humanity." Indeed, the shame was immense. While the crowd was seen as an indication of God’s favor, the absence of prayerful cries indicated His displeasure. This marks the first instance of an angel in the New Testament delivering the joyous announcement of the Forerunner's conception. In our day, many skeptics seek miraculous signs; Rousseau himself longed for God to reveal Himself directly. However, such revelations are not always beneficial; thus, the Israelites were not wrong in choosing to avoid direct communication with God and instead requested Moses to serve as their mediator. As we explore the Gospel narratives concerning the life of Jesus Christ on earth, it is essential to consider the conception of John the Baptist.

After his week concluded, he returned to his hometown. He might have informed his wife of the miraculous occurrence through a sign. However, it is quite likely that he chose not to disclose the full details of his vision to her, nor to anyone else. Whether out of gratitude for God’s blessing or in an effort to maintain the secrecy surrounding the reason for his wife's silence regarding her husband’s inability to speak, Elizabeth became pregnant. She remained so discreet for five months that those around her were unaware of the transformation that had occurred.

After a week of ministry in the temple, Zechariah returned home, and shortly afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. This brought her immense joy, as it signified the lifting of her societal shame (Genesis 30:23, 1 Samuel 1). However, she kept this joyful news to herself for five months, believing it to be an extraordinary act of the gracious God, who had seen her plight and removed her shame in a time when it seemed unlikely according to natural norms. She resolved that the revelation of this miraculous event should be revealed by the same wise God.

In the quiet of her solitude, she expressed gratitude to the Lord for having spared her from humiliation during her later years, freeing her from the shame imposed by others. Among the Jews, as previously mentioned, infertility was regarded as a divine punishment for wrongdoing, leading to a dismissive attitude toward the barren, who were perceived as having incited God's displeasure. A Jewish man could send away a childless wife with a certificate of divorce. Thus, Elisabeth rejoiced, knowing that she would finally be liberated from societal scorn and no longer bear the shame of her childlessness.

Zechariah continued his duties as a priest, remaining in the temple until the week concluded, specifically until the following Sabbath, marking the start of a new week. After the week's end, he journeyed back to his hometown from Jerusalem and shared the joyous news with his beloved Elizabeth. To the delight of the righteous couple, the promise made by the archangel was soon realized. Elizabeth conceived, and for five months, she held this profound joy within her heart, joyfully declaring, ‘Thus hath the Lord done unto me in these days, in which He hath looked upon me, to remove from me the reproach of men.’ The great mystery was approaching its fulfillment.

The Lord has acted towards me in such a manner: with grace and compassion, He has enabled me to conceive a son during my old age. - At a time when the holy couple had lost hope of having children. - "Take away my shame before others": among the Jews, barrenness was seen as a mark of divine disfavor, leading to public disdain; those who were unable to bear children were often spoken of unfavorably (cf. 1 Sam. 1:6).

In this passage, the angel's joyful announcement, which was received in the temple, was realized: on September 23, the Holy Church commemorates the conception of John, the Forerunner of the Lord. The righteous Elizabeth had secluded herself for five months, dedicating this time to glorifying God for His immense mercy towards her and her husband. Out of her overflowing gratitude, she proclaimed, "Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days in which He hath seen fit to take away my reproach in men." The conception of the barren Elizabeth is regarded by the Holy Church as a reflection of the Virgin's miraculous birthing; just as the dawn is brightened by the sun, the barren one heralds the Virgin's evident nativity.