Luke 1:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophetic words spoken by Elizabeth to Mary were not her own but rather the utterance of the child; Elizabeth’s voice merely served as the instrument for him, much like Mary’s mouth was an instrument for the divine presence in her womb— the Son of God. At that moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when the child leaped in her womb; had he not leaped, she would not have prophesied. Just as the prophets would reach a heightened state of being before speaking divine truths, it follows that John, perhaps inspired, first made his presence known with a cry and then prophesied through his mother’s voice.

Let it also be a lesson for you, devoted women, to care for your relatives who are expecting. Mary, who had once remained in the privacy of her home, was undeterred by her maidenly dignity, the challenging terrain, or the length of the journey when it came to fulfilling her family obligations. The Virgin moved swiftly to the hill country, mindful of her responsibilities, unbothered by the hardships, and motivated by love rather than any sense of feminine frailty.

Moreover, young women should remember to avoid visiting unfamiliar households, loitering in public spaces, or engaging in public discussions. While Mary took time to prepare her departure, she went with haste without lingering outside her home. She remained with her relative for three months, not out of a desire to be in the company of others, but because it was her duty and she found it distasteful to frequent the public eye too often.

Therefore, the mercies and blessings that filled the dwelling of Zacharias were boundless when he welcomed the angel of great counsel, the true patriarch Jacob, the Divine Prophet, the authentic ark of the covenant, our Savior, who resided in the womb of His holy Mother.

Let us strive to emulate the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary by purifying our gatherings and conversations, which often lead to sin among many Christians. Like her, we should avoid discussions that lack holiness and are trivial or fruitless. If we seek spiritual rest, we should aim to ensure that our conversations contribute to our moral growth or enhance our understanding and capacity to do good. It is essential to discard frivolities that demean and discomfort the soul. We should practice modesty, for nothing is more undesirable in society than those who incessantly chatter, fail to maintain composure, reveal things better left unsaid, and share their thoughts without taking time to properly formulate them, ultimately becoming tiresome and reducing themselves to folly. How much heartache and confusion could we prevent if we cultivated the virtues of self-restraint and mindfulness in our speech!

It is hard to believe that she did not yearn to share this news with her husband Joseph, yet the mystery of God silenced her. Her humility fostered this quietude. It occurred to her that perhaps the messenger had mentioned Elizabeth for a reason; this seasoned woman might provide guidance in her current predicament. A visit with her could offer deeper insight into the miraculous occurrence she had just encountered, as the angel had only touched upon it briefly. With these reflections in mind, Mary set off with urgency to the town where her relative resided, a journey taking around twenty to twenty-five hours. It is noteworthy that, according to one church teacher, it was not merely Mary who rushed to Elizabeth, but Jesus—still in her womb—who eagerly moved to sanctify His forerunner, John, who was also yet in the womb of Elizabeth.

A tradition that persisted until the fourth century A.D. claims that the Forerunner was born in a small town named Jutta, located near Hebron. This legend inspired Queen Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, to construct a church in Jutta, a place that has since been revered as the site of the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth.

Upon arriving at her kinswoman's well-known home, she greeted and embraced Elizabeth with great enthusiasm. This unexpected visit and Mary’s spirited greeting profoundly impacted Elizabeth. In that instant, the child within her stirred, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed, for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

However, it is likely the holy Virgin undertook this journey with the consent of her betrothed Joseph, and there is nothing preventing the belief that she traveled with other devotees who frequently journeyed from various parts of Palestine to Jerusalem. - "To the hill country": the central and southern regions of Palestine are traversed from north to south by a mountain range. When the Jewish kingdom was divided into Judah and Israel after Solomon, the section of this range within Judah was referred to as the mountains of Judah, or the hill country of Judah; whereas the area in Israel was known as the mountains of Israel, or the hill country of Israel. - The mention of "into the city of Judah" indicates that the highland region of Judah is intended here. The specific city is not identified, leading to varied interpretations: some propose it is Jerusalem, others Hebron, or a lesser-known Levitical city near Hebron, possibly Jutta (ivnct, Iutta, cf. Num. 15:55). Some suggest a later scribe mistakenly wrote ἱ'υττα instead of ἱυδα. - According to tradition passed down to Queen Helena concerning the burial place of John the Baptist at Jutta, a church was built there. This lends credence to the notion that Jutta was the residence of the righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, thus affirming this as the place to which the Mother of the Lord came. Yet, this view appears to contradict the text of Luke’s Gospel: it is hard to believe that such a scribe's error proliferated so widely across ancient manuscripts that not one bears the reading ἱ'υττα, and indeed, no extant manuscript reflects this. Therefore, we must conclude either that the original author misspelled the name, or that Jutta was once referred to as ἱυδα, but there is no substantial evidence for either claim! Hence, it’s essential to acknowledge the correct reading as ἱυδα, "to the city of Judah," referring to a notable city of the tribe of Judah, which certainly distinguishes it from the lesser Jutta. It also cannot refer to Jerusalem, as the capital city is never labeled thus. Most likely, it indicates the prominent city of Hebron, situated in the mountains of Judah. This ancient priestly city, steeped in history, is rightly believed to have been the home of Zechariah.

Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, the child within Elizabeth leapt with joy, as explained by the Holy Church, ‘like a Forerunner,’ ‘having known God, his Lord and Savior,’ ‘worshipped Him,’ and ‘proclaimed before the birth of the Sun of Truth.’ Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth became, as the Church hymns express it, ‘the first herald of the incarnate Messiah’ and ‘the first proclaimer of the sacred mystery being fulfilled.’ She recognized the Blessed Virgin not only as her beloved relative but also as the Mother of her Lord. In an outpouring of divine inspiration, she spoke not merely with kind words of familial greeting but delivered a profound declaration rich in mystery. She exclaimed loudly, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how is it granted to me that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child leaped for joy in my womb. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’ ‘There are many women in Israel esteemed for their motherhood and renowned for their virtues,’ Elizabeth seemed to convey to the Blessed Virgin, ‘yet you surpass them all beyond measure, for through you the promised Messiah enters the world. My child, the future Forerunner, sensing the presence of his incarnate Lord within you, joyfully greets Him. Your visit brings me immense joy because I see in you not just a daughter of Joachim and Anna, my relative, but the Virgin Mary, elevated by God to the extraordinary role of the Mother of the Savior. To you, the great mystery of the Incarnation has been revealed by the Lord: truly blessed is your faith, for all will unfold as it has been declared to you.’