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Monday Late Advent
The Institute
December 21, 2015
ELIZABETH 1ST
NT PROPHET +++++++++++++++++++++
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There R 2 details in today’s Gospel I find
inspiring
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1st, in opening verses of Luke angels
repeatedly speak of God as the “Lord”
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In passage, Elizabeth sees Mary & says, “Who
am I that mother of my Lord
should come 2 me?”
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Elizabeth then 1st person who’s
recorded as recognizing Jesus as “Lord” or God
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With this, Luke implies Elizabeth is a prophet,
1 who’s able 2 discern G’s presence at work in R lives
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In those days, women never seen as prophets;
they had a restricted status in society
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This then constitutes a breakthrough!
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So w/ this 1 word from Elizabeth, Luke’s
implying Jesus, the Lord’s stepping beyond mindsets & restrictions of
society that R no longer appropriate
MARY AS BLESSED +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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And then, twice Elizabeth calls Mary “blessed”
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In original Hebrew, there R 2 different words
here that get translated as “blessed” in English
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First, Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are
you among women”
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Here the word means consecrated, i.e. specially
selected by God for a special role
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In this way, Elizabeth extols Mary as
extraordinary or even unique
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2nd meaning, Elizabeth says, “Blessed
is she who trusted that Lord’s words 2 her would B fulfilled”
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Here the word “blessed” signifies “happy”
or “fortunate”
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It’s same word that Jesus uses in the
Beatitudes, e.g. “Blessed are the merciful”
WE AS BLESSED +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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So idea is this “blessedness,” “happiness,” or
“good fortune’s” available 2 us who trust in and follow G’s Word
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Elizabeth extols Mary as one like us and one whose
example we ought to follow
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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That is the richness in this touching, warm
passage from Luke’s gospel this morning
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And it’s more than beautiful prose
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Whether it’s moving beyond traditional roles for
women or the blessing that comes from following Jesus…
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Luke’s wisdom is something to live by
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
