“And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.”
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy — the great mercy of the Lord toward Elizabeth is recognized by the community — the barrenness that had been her disgrace is now replaced by the joy that the community shares. The shared joy is Luke's characteristic communal dimension: the joy of the kingdom is not private but public, spreading outward from its source.
Church Fathers on Luke 1:58
If you carefully observe, you will find that the word signifying fullness is no where used except at the birth of the righteous. Hence it is said, Now Elisabeth’s full time came. For the life of the righteous has fullness, but the days of the wicked are empty.
And for that reason the Lord kept back the delivery of Elisabeth, that her joy might be increased, and her fame the greater. Hence it follows, And her neighbors and cousins heard, &c. For they who had known her barrenness were made the witnesses of the Divine grace, and no one seeing the child departed in silence, but gave praise to God, Who had vouchsafed him beyond their expectation.
Read all 3 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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