(Please read the Scripture passages first, before the homily.)
Luke wrote this story of the visit of Mary to Elizabeth. He used references to David, to the Song of Songs and to the prophet Zephaniah as an important aspect of the story.
David had brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem with great rejoicing, dancing, trumpet blasts and shouts of joy. The Ark of the Covenant had contained the Word of God revealed to Moses on the mountain. The Ark was the place where God made his presence known in Israel.
The Song of Songs sang of lovers leaping upon the mountains and frolicking in the gardens and on the hills. The prophet Zephaniah encouraged Zion to shout for joy and to exult with all its heart because God was in their midst.
Luke described Mary as setting out in haste to the hill country to the house of Zechariah. There Elizabeth greeted her with loud cries and the infant in Elizabeth’s womb danced for joy. This was not a funeral procession; it was more a wedding procession from church to the banquet hall. Luke described the Ark of the Covenant as on a joyful journey to Jerusalem. He described God as a young lover frolicking in the hills with his beloved and as a heroic leader celebrated by happy people.
We tend to focus on the one we can see, Mary and Elizabeth, but Luke would have us focus on the One we cannot yet see, God, the Lord, in the womb of Mary. Luke would have us see Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant with the Holy One of Israel in her womb. Luke could see her dancing with joy as she hastens into the hill country in joyful procession with the Word of God in her womb.
In David’s time the Ark had layover of a three-months before it arrived in joyful procession in Jerusalem. Mary’s visit with Elizabeth lasted three months. After three months, the Ark would resume its journey until the Ark would come into the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, but that story is for a different time.
This is what all this means. Jesus in the womb of his Mother is the same the Word of God that was in the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus, in the womb of his Mother is the Son of the David who brought the Ark to Jerusalem. Jesus, the Son of David is likewise the Son of Mary and the Son of God. The one in Mary’s womb is God in human flesh.
Luke’s focus was on God’s presence in Mary’s womb. He wanted us to see God among us. He would describe our task as being like Mary’s. We are arks of the covenant. We are to bring God to others as we go in joyful procession to all the places where God would have us go, home, work, shopping, recreation, wherever. Luke’s story continues even in our time.