In today’s Gospel we heard the words of Elizabeth to Mary. She said: Blessed are you more than all other women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Before Mary heard it from Elisabeth the angel had announced the birth of Jesus and had greeted Mary with the words: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
These words of Elizabeth and the greeting from the angel are summarized in the beautiful prayer that we often pray: “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.”
Although this text is known to believers since the formulation of the Gospel of Luke, this prayer „Hail Mary“ was first said in the Syrian and Egyptian liturgy in the 7th century after the presentation of the gifts. In the 8th century it was also prayed by believers outside the liturgy. From the 12th century onwards, the Church established the prayer “Hail Mary” as one of the three most important statements of faith, alongside the “Our Father” and the Creed.
As the angel said that God was with her, we greet Mary and rejoice with Mary whenever we say this prayer. The reason is that God chose her to become the mother of Jesus and promised to be with her. This promise to Mary is similar to God‘s promise to the fathers Abraham and Moses when they chose to follow God’s ways. God gave promise strength and courage to Abraham and Moses. The angel’s words:, “The Lord is with you,” gave not only joy at being chosen to become the mother of Jesus, but strength, courage and confidence in the promise of God, which enabled her to say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.“
As Jesus was preaching, once a woman said from the crowd. Blessed is the woman whose womb bore you and whose breast nourished you” (Luke 11.27). The content of Elizabeth’s words to Mary: “Blessed are you more than all women” is similar to what this woman from the crowd said to Jesus. Jesus’ response to it, namely, “Blessed are those who obey the word of God,” is fulfilled in Mary, because before Elizabeth addressed Mary with her words of greetings, Mary had followed the word of God and said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me.” That is, Mary is blessed among all women, because Mary received the word of God, followed the word of God and proclaimed the word of God, the word of God, her son Jesus Christ. Mary is blessed among all women because the fruit of her womb is blessed.
The prayer “Hail Mary” contains words from the Gospel. It expresses the mystery of Incarnation and explain the redemption of humanity through the Incarnation. It explains the role of Mary in the life and work of Christ.
In a few days we will celebrate Christmas. Through Christmas we experience the joy of the birth of Christ. We experience this inner joy in various ways. In these days of preparation for Christmas, we could consciously pray or hear the words of the angel to Mary and Elizabeth in the form of the prayer “Hail Mary”. Let the Christmas spirit work within us.
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS