Luke 1:41Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

John, having received a unique blessing prior to others, exalts even in his mother's womb, demonstrating his significance beyond that of the prophets (Matthew 11:9). While the prophets proclaimed after their births, John was bestowed with this honor even before entering the world. Consider how the Virgin approached Elizabeth, starting to converse with her. Hence, the Virgin's voice served as the voice of God made flesh within her, and in turn, He graced the Forerunner with prophetic insight while still in the womb. The prophetic utterances of Elizabeth to Mary originated not from Elizabeth herself but from the child, with Elizabeth's mouth merely acting as a vessel, just as Mary's mouth was for the divine Son she carried.

While John was yet within the loins of Zechariah, akin to Levi in the loins of Abraham, he was already devotedly serving and patiently awaiting the Lord, reminiscent of the bloom of the month of Adar, which quietly heralds the budding growth in the heart of Jerusalem. Just as the sign of life appears five months before the fruit begins to develop, John was conceived ahead of time (Luke 1:36) to proclaim through his worship the coming of the One who is to be adored. John overflowed with joy at being entrusted with the role of herald. Exultant, the child of the barren woman heralded the presence of the child of the Virgin. In order to proclaim the revelation of the Lord, John required the voice of his mother.

You have understood, women, the humility of Mary; also learn from her modesty. She approached as family to family, as the younger to the elder, and not only did she arrive, but she was also the first to offer her greeting. It is fitting that a virgin, in her purity, displays greater modesty. She understood how to honor those who were older, and let the Virgin who dedicated herself to chastity be an example of humility. In her resides the foundation of devotion and teaching. It is significant that the greater comes to serve the lesser so that the lesser might be uplifted: Mary goes to Elizabeth, Christ approaches John. Then the Lord comes for baptism to consecrate John's baptism (see Matthew 3:13, Mark 1:9).

The infant that resided in the womb of the sterile woman is declared to be the one who was in the virgin, while the virgin is recognized as being barren. Because the one concealed in Elizabeth's womb was filled with the Holy Spirit, she too experienced His fullness. By bearing the prophet in her womb, she proclaims and honors both the Virgin and the offspring of the Virgin's womb.

The occurrence of Mary’s visitation is not an isolated event in history. It has been noted that children sometimes exhibit movement while in the womb, particularly those chosen for greatness. This phenomenon is especially prominent among saints, who seem to begin their divine missions even before birth. A notable example is found in the life of Sergius of Radonezh, who reportedly vocalized three times while still in his mother's womb during the liturgy—once before the reading of the Gospel, once before the Cherubic hymn, and again before the proclamation of "Holy to the Holy." Similar accounts exist regarding certain emperors and mighty warriors.

In the interim, the extraordinary grace associated with Mary's visitation offers us insight into the blessings we can anticipate from heaven through her intercession. The Holy Spirit, speaking through Elizabeth, instructs us on how we ought to honor and petition her. This devout woman proclaims the great Virgin as blessed, not for any earthly reasons, but solely for the divine gifts bestowed upon her and for the sacred qualities with which she embraced them. She refrains from using worldly greetings, which pertain only to temporary advantages and transient material possessions.

Mary's presence in Zacharias' home was entirely unexpected, and Elizabeth was astonished that anyone, particularly someone from as distant as Nazareth, could have learned about her condition. Likewise, Mary could not have anticipated that the announcement from the angel would be recognized by anyone other than herself. However, upon Mary's arrival at Elizabeth's home and her customary greeting, Elizabeth experienced a remarkable stirring of the child within her womb.

Upon the departure of the Archangel Gabriel, the Blessed Virgin quickly made her way to Elizabeth's home to witness the sign bestowed upon her by the heavenly messenger. At Elizabeth’s residence, Mary received two confirmations of the Archangel's announcement. First, she saw with her own eyes the realization of what the Archangel had revealed regarding Elizabeth. Second, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth declared the identity of the Mother of God. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she sensed an extraordinary movement within her as her child leaped for joy (v. 44), and at that very moment, the Holy Spirit disclosed to her the significance and reason for this movement.

Upon receiving such incredible and profound tidings, the blessed Virgin felt a deep compulsion to share this joy with someone she cherished greatly. The righteous Joseph, due to his age and role, was not the person with whom she could express her wondrous delight. Instead, it was fitting for her to visit her elderly relative Elizabeth, who had also received the same joy and had been like a mother to her during her time in the temple. Without delay, she prepared for her journey. The road ahead was long and challenging, requiring three or four days of travel through rugged mountains. Yet, driven by an unexplainable joy, she traversed the distance and, upon entering the familiar home of her relative, greeted and embraced Elizabeth with great enthusiasm.

This remarkable movement of the unborn child vividly demonstrated the profound spiritual connection that would exist between the two children. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, instantaneously grasped the mystery surrounding Mary, which had remained concealed from everyone, including Joseph, who was unaware of this mystery until an angel later revealed it to him in a dream (Matt. 1:19 ff.).