Luke 1:58Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And for that reason the Lord kept back the delivery of Elisabeth, that her joy might be increased, and her fame the greater. Hence it follows, And her neighbours and cousins heard, &c. For they who had known her barrenness were made the witnesses of the Divine grace, and no one seeing the child departed in silence, but gave praise to God, Who had vouchsafed him beyond their expectation.

In the lineage of John and Jesus, Elizabeth, in her later years, brought forth the final prophet, while Mary, in her youth, bore the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave life to the voice calling out in the wilderness (Lk 3:4), and the daughter of David delivered the Word of God. The previously barren woman gave birth to the One who forgives transgressions, and the virgin brought forth the One who eradicates them. Elizabeth gave rise to the One who reconciles humanity through repentance, and Mary gave birth to the One who purifies the earth from sin. The Elder illuminated the house of Jacob, her father, as that light was John himself, while the Younger bore the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2) for all peoples.

If you carefully observe, you will find that the word signifying fulness is no where used except at the birth of the righteous. Hence it is said, Now Elisabeth’s full time came. For the life of the righteous hath fulness, but the days of the wicked are empty.

In the realm of the miraculous, today marks the birth of Christ's forerunner, fulfilling all prophecies made. The prophets proclaimed His coming and baptized Him in the Jordan, recognizing Him as the Messenger of God, a preacher, and the Forerunner. Let us now extol the Forerunner of the Lord, who was born to Elizabeth, a woman once childless yet not without God’s design. While Christ uniquely entered the world untouched by human means, John was born through a woman who had a husband. Jesus, however, was conceived by the Holy Spirit through the pure Virgin, guided by the will of the Father. Thus, from the barren came forth a prophet, a preacher, alongside the Forerunner who heralded the Lord.

Remarkable occurrences, like an elderly woman giving birth to a son, circulate rapidly and widely. To everyone, it appeared to be a remarkable blessing from God, one that was not merely a blessing but a profound elevation of grace. Consequently, Zacharias had genuine reasons to question the realization of the angel’s prophecy. 'Rejoice with her.' This marks the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise that 'many shall rejoice over the birth of John.' As we examine the Gospel accounts regarding the events surrounding the earthly existence of Jesus Christ, we also reflect on the Nativity of John the Baptist and his early life.

In Nazareth, as Mary's secret was revealed, the silence that had muted Zacharias was also lifted. Elizabeth, fulfilling the angel's prophecy, gave birth to a son, prompting many relatives and friends to gather in celebration. They were astonished by the remarkable occurrence, reflecting on the timing of the vision granted to Zacharias, noting the interconnectedness of the events, yet their understanding remained incomplete. Zacharias remained unable to speak, while Elizabeth chose not to disclose any information without her husband's consent.

Shortly after Our Lady left the home of Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Both the elderly parents and their friends and relatives recognized this event as a significant blessing and act of mercy from God, leading everyone to celebrate with joy. According to the law (Leviticus 12:3), it was required that the child be circumcised on the eighth day following his birth, during which he would also receive a name in accordance with tradition (Genesis 21:3-4). Discussions ensued regarding the name for the newborn, with many suggesting Zacharias after his father, adhering to the typical practice of naming children after family members. However, Elizabeth, following the angel's instruction (Luke 1:13), which was unknown to those present, insisted that her son be called John.

When Elizabeth delivered a male child, her family and neighbors celebrated, recognizing that the Lord had demonstrated His kindness towards her.

Shortly after her passing, the vow made by Zechariah came to fruition, and Elizabeth bore a son. His arrival brought joy not only to the devout parents but also to all their family and friends, who genuinely celebrated with them.

The Lord has greatly exalted, an emphatic indication of God's favor towards the elderly Elizabeth. She became pregnant and bore a child in her later years, a reality that surpassed her own expectations and those of everyone around her. The Jewish community, familiar with witnessing God's blessings in typical childbirth, recognized this miraculous birth from a barren woman as a unique sign of divine grace towards this righteous couple. Consequently, they rejoiced alongside her and celebrated her blessing.

For a long time, as St. John Chrysostom articulates, ‘the birth of Christ was concealed,’ with the holy mystery unfolding gradually and subtly. When Elizabeth welcomed the promised child, the silence that had long been held by the aged priest was lifted. This miraculous birth of a child to a woman who had been barren in her advanced years was a manifestation of God's unique grace toward the devout couple, leading all their neighbors and relatives to rejoice with them.