WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING:
LESSONS FOR PREGNANCY AND ADVENT
Luke 1:39-55
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C
Analysis by Chris Neumann
39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
46And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’
“The body and blood of Christ for me. Proof that come what may I can go about my days with a holy glow, counting on God, in Christ Jesus.”
DIAGNOSIS: False Hope
Step 1: Initial Diagnosis (External Problem) – A pregnancy test
So, Mary is expecting. At least that is what the angel told her, despite her innocent and honest initial protests. Mary knows how this pregnancy thing works. Means her external problem is a couple months away yet – when the baby bump will be publicly visible. Could this perhaps be why Mary makes like a tree with such haste? Sure, she eventually signed off on what the angel foretold: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” But my goodness, it’s not as though the angel followed up with a grand announcement to the rest of the village. Seriously, who is going to believe this? Her parents? Her fiancé? Members of her Jewish faith community? Give me a break! The virgin Mary is pregnant with the Son of God. Haha, sure she is! This is not likely to go well. Mary could use some space and seeks solace with out of town relatives before this situation becomes obvious to everyone.
Interestingly enough, like Mary, I verbally sign off on God’s plan too. Every Sunday for that matter. The words I utter go something like this: “Your kingdom come; your will be done.” The confidence with which the words come out tends to dissipate at the first sign of ‘your will’ and ‘My will’ being at odds. Like Mary, I could use time to regroup too, because what God has tossed in my lap isn’t what I had in mind.
Step 2: Advance Diagnosis (Internal Problem) – Baby on board
The distance of the trip to see Zechariah and Elizabeth is roughly 100 miles. That is about an hour and a half by car. Obviously not how Mary was traveling though. Earbuds pumping Spotify or podcasts to help pass time during the slow travel weren’t options. Not as though she’s texting Elizabeth either.
This to say, Mary had an awful lot of time to think. It wasn’t as though she didn’t believe in God’s promised Messiah. But can the angel really be trusted? Is the culmination of all that hope of salvation really materializing like this, with her playing a lead role? The angel said Elizabeth was expecting too. That will give Mary something to see with her own eyes and touch with her own hands – proof that God can be trusted.
I’ll take a serving of that proof too, thank you very much. Life is dishing out a steady diet of curveballs these days. How about something tangible to get me through the tough times, so I know the joke isn’t on me. That the time we spend peddling this good news is actually worthwhile.
Step 3: Final Diagnosis (Ultimate Problem) – Painful contractions
Absent that fundamental trust, magnifying the Lord is the last thing Mary’s soul is going to do. Same goes for me as my heart contracts and hardens. I push God away in search of my own answers to questions or solutions to problems. After all, God hasn’t proven that he can be counted on. At least not timely and reliably. Well…at least not according to me.
Suddenly not sounding especially lowly. More like proud, powerful, and lacking fear. If God provides refuge for the opposite, I shouldn’t be surprised at what I’ve got coming to me. Fact is, God’s patience with me is also contracting. Undesirable though they may be contractions are a necessary part of the birthing process. Not getting to that moment of relief and inexpressible joy without that initial pain. Same goes for us. Contractions must come first. Death’s sting is essential. Judgment is worst, even unbearable.
From Wikimedia Commons
PROGNOSIS: Surprise shower of blessings
Step 4: Initial Prognosis (Eternal Solution) – God delivers
Funny thing is, once that new baby has arrived, it has been my experience that the mother often quickly leaves the pain behind and focuses on the new life she holds. The hurt is a thing of the past, already replaced by happiness. God promises the same for all of us. Unending joy the likes we’ve never experienced on the other side of the current pain. He has been promising it since the days of Abraham. And he’s making good on that promise right here with Mary. The angel bore this exact message.
Any thoughts Mary may have harbored to the contrary are squashed immediately upon greeting Elizabeth. Driven by the Spirit, Elizabeth confirms the angel’s message. She confirms God’s plan to rescue, restore, and provide brand new life to his people. Mary even gets tangible validation as Elizabeth’s unborn child does summersaults in the womb. Something to touch and feel. Both women are pregnant as promised. God is good to his word! Our Savior is on the way.
Step 5: Advance Prognosis (Internal Solution) – The pregnancy glow
The Holy Spirit has provided all the assurance Mary needs. Her response could not be more textbook Crossings step five. Mary’s beautiful song is an immediate answer, a confident answer, to what God has done for her. Yes, God can be trusted in the face of trial. Yes, God will remember the lowly and feed the hungry. Yes, God will show mercy and scatter the proud. But as God will do all of these things, even check every last Magnificat box, God will do so much more for us through his Son, our Lord, from manger to the cross and the open tomb. Christ will bring us magnificent promise beyond our imagination!
Blessed be Mary for this reaction. If any substance exists to this angle, then Mary is certainly not the last person who requires an extra boost of reassurance. Akin to Thomas for example, with something tangible to touch – my Lord and my God. Remarkably, I’ll get that this week too. I’ll get it when I stumble up for holy communion. Tangible evidence for me to touch, feel and taste. The body and blood of Christ for me. Proof that come what may I can go about my days with a holy glow, counting on God, in Christ Jesus.
Step 6: Final Prognosis (External Solution) – Nesting instinct takes over
Nesting instinct is a mother-to-be’s natural urge to prepare a home for the coming baby. The whole concept is founded on a sense of overwhelming excitement and anticipation. It is the perfect parallel for Advent. Let’s get ready for the coming baby by taking the gospel message to the world, unexpecting people who will be blessed by the good news. It is another of God’s promises. He even gives a hint of that expected outcome in this text where Mary essentially takes Jesus to Elizabeth. An Elizabeth that is instantly overcome with both awe and trust. The Spirit doing what the Spirit does.
Regardless of stature, education, or credentials, God chose you, just like he chose lowly Mary to carry the gospel to people he so dearly loves. Proclaim it this Advent with conviction. The word will bear fruit. The Spirit will produce joy.
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