Pondering Mary and Elizabeth
By Anton 17 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Luke 1:35-44 (CEV)
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!”
38 Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42 Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43 Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me.
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
Listening to this account again yesterday something struck me that I’d never thought of before and I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard discussed or preached on.
If Mary went to visit Elizabeth when she was “in her sixth month” and stayed three months, would she have been there for the birth of John the Baptist.
I mused this question on Twitter this morning and got this great reply
Mary, midwife to the one who prepared the way… Wow
— Angi Nutt ن (@Revdangi) December 18, 2017
Just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on the question…
Pam's Perambulation 
I’ve always assumed that – it would have been common practice in those days for family members to assist at the birth. Also, it was a way of Mary keeping a low profile during her shameful (to the eyes of society) pregnancy.
It’s not something I’ve ever heard articulated I don’t think. I only got the bit about her going to hide the shameful pregnancy this weekend – probing there’s always something new to discover 😃
I guess it’s because of life experiences coupled with a tendency to read the New Testament as “ordinary life” which was later interpreted as extraordinary that I’ve tended towards the pragmatic approach. I actually think there is a very strong probability that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier – if anything that makes the consequent life of Jesus and its continued effect down the ages even more miraculous. But I’m probably in a minority of one. I suspect my pragmatism is also why I really don’t like the entire Christmas season – strikes me as an unhealthy mix of crass commercialism and over-sentimentalisation. 2nd Jan will be a good day…