r/Sunday • u/JustKidding456 • 13d ago
Fourth Sunday in Advent: Gospel Reading (CPH The Lutheran Study Bible)
Gospel According to Luke, 1:39–45 (ESV)
Mary Visits Elizabeth
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible. Concordia Publishing House:
(Abbreviations Reference Guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sunday/comments/1dg8y2u/)
1:39–45 As Mary greets Elizabeth, baby John leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. The work of God’s Spirit is not limited by age, gender, or socio-economic status. He is poured out for all people according to the good and gracious will of God, who blesses motherhood and children and, through them, all humanity, even as He promised Eve (Gn 3:15). Like baby John, leap for joy that salvation comes from the Lord in humble and unexpected ways as the Good News of Jesus is shared. • “Thou Christian heart, Whoe’er thou art, Be of good cheer and let no sorrow move thee! For God’s own Child, In mercy mild, Joins thee to Him; how greatly God must love thee!” Amen. (LSB 372:4)
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible. Concordia Publishing House:
(Abbreviations Reference Guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sunday/comments/1dg8y2u/)
1:39 town in Judah. Zechariah and Elizabeth lived somewhere near Jerusalem, where Zechariah had recently served in the temple (vv 5–20).
1:41–44 filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth recognized that Mary was carrying a child who was the “Lord,” knowledge that only the Holy Spirit could reveal. Even more remarkably, John reacted from within her womb as well! Cf 2:25–38.