Annunciation
Tanner, Henry Ossawa, 1859-1937. Annunciation, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54838 [retrieved December 17, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Ossawa_Tanner_-_The_Annunciation.jpg.
Blessed is She
Everett, Trey. Blessed Is She, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57818 [retrieved December 17, 2021]. Original source: www.treyeverettcreates.com.
On the Representation of Mary and Elizabeth
We must be careful with the representation of Mary and Elizabeth. Certainly we are not meant to recognize pregnancy as the only divine role for women. In the hidden her-story of the gospel, women fulfilled their discipleship in an abundance of ways: by materially supporting Christ’s ministry, by defying fear of death to stand beneath the Cross, and by being the first witness to the Risen Christ.
…
The expected births of both Mary and Elizabeth were ambiguous and troublesome. Both women understood their pregnancies as a time of question-rejection-and doubt. After the scorn of barrenness, Elizabeth remained secluded for five months; after the scorn of unexpected pregnancy, Mary stood to lose her legal and social rights as Joseph considered ending his betrothal to her. Mary and Elizabeth were women living in a time when, not unlike aspects of today, religion had become fossilized, seeking to control society rather than transform society. They, however, sought to live radically faithful lives in response to the call from their God. Not unexpectedly, these women lived lives like those of their soon-too-be-born sons. Do we think John and Jesus just “knew” how to live radically faithful lives? how to be preachers? how to be healers? John and Jesus knew how to live radically faithful lives because they were sons of two women who had faithfully faced a terrifying yet expectant reality.
Jann Cather Weaver
We must be careful with the representation of Mary and Elizabeth. Certainly we are not meant to recognize pregnancy as the only divine role for women. In the hidden her-story of the gospel, women fulfilled their discipleship in an abundance of ways: by materially supporting Christ’s ministry, by defying fear of death to stand beneath the Cross, and by being the first witness to the Risen Christ.
…
The expected births of both Mary and Elizabeth were ambiguous and troublesome. Both women understood their pregnancies as a time of question-rejection-and doubt. After the scorn of barrenness, Elizabeth remained secluded for five months; after the scorn of unexpected pregnancy, Mary stood to lose her legal and social rights as Joseph considered ending his betrothal to her. Mary and Elizabeth were women living in a time when, not unlike aspects of today, religion had become fossilized, seeking to control society rather than transform society. They, however, sought to live radically faithful lives in response to the call from their God. Not unexpectedly, these women lived lives like those of their soon-too-be-born sons. Do we think John and Jesus just “knew” how to live radically faithful lives? how to be preachers? how to be healers? John and Jesus knew how to live radically faithful lives because they were sons of two women who had faithfully faced a terrifying yet expectant reality.
Jann Cather Weaver
Imaging the Word An Arts and Lectionary Resource, Volume 1
Exploring the Text: Mary and Elizabeth
Even though there is a significant age difference, Mary and Elizabeth are cousins. Mary is probably a young teenager while Elizabeth is an old woman. They are both pregnant and Elizabeth is probably about six months farther along than Mary.
We don't know why Mary went to visit Elizabeth. Maybe it is because she new Elizabeth was getting to that stage of her pregnancy where she could use some help with daily tasks and getting ready for the birth of her son. Maybe she wanted our of Nazareth and aware from the rumors that were surely flying around about her as an unwed pregnant young woman. Maybe she was overjoyed at what God was doing in her life and wanted to share it with Elizabeth. Maybe it was a little of all of the above. Whatever the reason, Mary travels to visit Elizabeth.
When Mary arrives and she and Elizabeth greet each other, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth is filled with Spirit of God and declared that Mary was blessed because had believed that what God had spoken to her would be fulfilled.
There are times in our lives when our circumstances and our feelings seem to drown out our confidence in what God has said. Maybe we get distracted by the business of daily life. Maybe we get discouraged and frustrated when it seems like things are not going the way we want them to. Maybe we feel overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. Whatever the issue, don't lose sight of what God has said. Elizabeth declared that Mary was blessed because she had believed what God had said. The same holds true for us. If we cling to what God has said, and don't get pulled away by our circumstances or our feelings, we too will be blessed when God fulfills his word,
Even though there is a significant age difference, Mary and Elizabeth are cousins. Mary is probably a young teenager while Elizabeth is an old woman. They are both pregnant and Elizabeth is probably about six months farther along than Mary.
We don't know why Mary went to visit Elizabeth. Maybe it is because she new Elizabeth was getting to that stage of her pregnancy where she could use some help with daily tasks and getting ready for the birth of her son. Maybe she wanted our of Nazareth and aware from the rumors that were surely flying around about her as an unwed pregnant young woman. Maybe she was overjoyed at what God was doing in her life and wanted to share it with Elizabeth. Maybe it was a little of all of the above. Whatever the reason, Mary travels to visit Elizabeth.
When Mary arrives and she and Elizabeth greet each other, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth is filled with Spirit of God and declared that Mary was blessed because had believed that what God had spoken to her would be fulfilled.
There are times in our lives when our circumstances and our feelings seem to drown out our confidence in what God has said. Maybe we get distracted by the business of daily life. Maybe we get discouraged and frustrated when it seems like things are not going the way we want them to. Maybe we feel overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. Whatever the issue, don't lose sight of what God has said. Elizabeth declared that Mary was blessed because she had believed what God had said. The same holds true for us. If we cling to what God has said, and don't get pulled away by our circumstances or our feelings, we too will be blessed when God fulfills his word,