The Will to Dream: Unexpected Joy

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:39–55

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my whole being shall exult in my God.” Isaiah 61:10

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46,47

Welcome to the third Sunday of Advent, a time when we celebrate the joy that Jesus' birth brings to the world! Advent teaches us about the significance of Jesus’ arrival as He brings hope, peace, joy, and love to the world. We have heard messages of profound hope and peace that Jesus offers, reflecting a realistic hope and prophetic peace in which fairness, justice, and love prevail.

Today, as we explore the joy that Jesus introduced to the world, we look at the unexpected joy demonstrated in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth experienced unexpected joy with her pregnancy, especially when society and nature seemed to rule her out of the possibility of having a child. Meanwhile, Mary's joy was pure and profound, marked by her extraordinary pregnancy. The exchange of greetings between these two women highlights the theme of "unexpected joy."

Mary's song, known as the Magnificat, is often seen as a hymn of praise. However, it’s important to recognize that it is not God or Mary who declares her blessed, but the voices of others: “For from now on, all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48b). Instead of focusing on her blessings, Mary reflects on her suffering and the grace to come, trusting that, just as God provided for Israel, God will also provide for her.

Mary found herself in a world similar to ours, marked by imbalance. Many suffered from hunger, while health and wellness remained luxuries for a few. Profit-driven jobs and violence were rampant. The stories in Luke’s Gospel highlight the struggles of ordinary people in Galilee and Judea. Amid these challenges, the Roman Empire claimed divine authority, presenting itself as the world’s savior and asserting that it was making the world great again.

In the final verse of Mary’s song, Isaiah 61 highlights God's fulfilled promises to Israel and celebrates the beginning of transformation. Isaiah boldly declares that it will be the oppressed, the brokenhearted, and those who have been imprisoned who will rebuild what has long been destroyed. These individuals, having experienced injustice, are capable of envisioning a different kind of society—one not dominated by power or greed, but shaped by God's intentions for creating a more equitable world. This vision emphasizes the importance of building a more just society from the ground up, rather than relying on the empty promises of those in power.

As modern leaders boast of their greatness, we would do well to embody Mary’s caution and heed Isaiah’s message. True greatness and joy arise not when rulers celebrate their mastery, but when they recognize and uplift the lowly.

Joy, in the context of Advent, represents prophetic defiance. The stories of Elizabeth and Mary illustrate this point. We have inherited the misconception that joy is reserved for those with comfort, status, or certainty. However, their experiences challenge that narrative. While Elizabeth remained childless into old age, and Mary found herself unexpectedly pregnant under scandalous circumstances, both women demonstrated trust in God's presence.

Elizabeth acknowledges Mary's faith as blessed, and Mary sings of reversal and triumph. Together, they declare joy—not as a way to escape pain, but as a response from a people who recognize that God is with the lowly. They articulate what is wrong, celebrate what is growing, and rejoice as an act of resistance. Joy belongs to the brokenhearted, the captives, and the mourners. It is a profound happiness that cannot be diminished by present circumstances. Joy is an eager anticipation of the wonderful things that God will bring.

Mary’s Magnificat goes beyond resistance by exposing systems that exploit the poor and hoard wealth. Her words reflect Isaiah’s message: joy is for the brokenhearted, captives, and mourners. This is revolutionary poetry, not sentimental hope. Mary declares that God has scattered the proud, filled the hungry, and lifted the humble, even as her song laments how far we are from this ideal world. Yet she continues to sing, her joy embodying faith and celebrating what God is bringing to life despite oppressive forces.

In contrast, Elizabeth faces barrenness and aging in a culture that devalues her worth. Yet she resists the lies that her value is tied to childbearing and that silence is safer. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth is the first to affirm her sacred calling, recognizing its significance through trust and blessing. Her greeting, “Blessed are you among women,” is filled with the Holy Spirit—a powerful proclamation in a world that silences women. Elizabeth chooses to see, name, and bless, defying the odds.

Elizabeth and Mary’s joy can be compared to a high school senior opening a letter of acceptance from their dream college. This moment is often one of the simplest and most joyful in a young person’s life. This joy is closely connected to the understanding that hard work, pain, and possibly suffering lie ahead. The joy comes not just from reaching a goal but also from the excitement of facing the challenges that will come before graduation.

The moment between Mary and Elizabeth is filled with this prophetic imagination. They do not shy away from hard truths—they embrace them. They do not ignore injustice; instead, they acknowledge it and envision a future beyond it. Their encounter embodies joy: not the absence of struggle, but the arrival of God’s kingdom through courageous solidarity. Elizabeth’s voice creates space for Mary’s Magnificat to rise. Her witness encourages us to identify systems that harm bodies and hearts and to celebrate those who resist such injustices. In Elizabeth, joy becomes both a spiritual practice and a communal act of recognizing justice.

In a world that increasingly values individualism, we are still encouraged to embrace community. Whether it’s large or small, the effort to live life together is invaluable. Joy shared within our community is joy that is multiplied. We are called to join Elizabeth and Mary in creating joy that is rooted in justice and shared witness.