Undoing the Knots: Elizabeth Says 'He Will Be Called John' -- A woman's view of Gospel Liberation —

In anticipation of Christ’s birth, the gospel reading for December 23* tells the story of Elizabeth naming her son John (He grows up to be John the Baptist.) I recently enjoyed being part of a conversation with theologian Tina Beattie about this reading. That conversation inspires this reflection.

The naming of John the Baptist: While friends and neighbours expect that in keeping with custom, the child will be named Zechariah, John’s mother Elizabeth chooses his name. Zechariah remains silenced by God until he endorses Elizabeth’s choice.

What do we hear and see in this reading that is part of the grand story of Christ's birth? The naming of John foreshadows what Christ’s presence will bring for women. We learn that Mary's cousin Elizabeth exercises personal agency when she independently names her son ‘John’, while her husband, Zechariah, a priest, remains silenced by God until he agrees with her!

Our Lady, Mary, Undoer of Knots is one of Pope Francis’s favourite devotions

If we follow feminist biblical scholar Phyllis Trible's interpretation of Genesis - that the man calling his wife by name after eating the fruit was the first act of proprietorial domination of the woman by the man - then we can see Elizabeth's naming of John as the first truly great prophetic act of his ministry. The priest is silenced while the woman exercises authority in naming the child. While friends and neighbours expect that custom will be followed so that the child will be named Zechariah after his father, instead, Elizabeth chooses 'John'. In doing so, she does not acquiesce to custom. Through Elizabeth, this new name will be used for the first time. The act of naming and the choice of name become symbols of women's liberation in the story of Christ. Elizabeth independently exercises her personal agency. In the story of Christ, she is empowered to open the door to a new way.

If, as Irenaeus says, the incarnation undoes the knots all the way back to creation, then surely in Elizabeth and Mary being given the authority to name their children, we see the untying of the knots that have kept women bound into silence and submission?

In a world where poverty and oppression wear a feminine face, the priest who is silenced, the husband whose wife is a virgin, the Incarnation who comes first to the poor are vital signs of redemption for women. In the incarnation, the wife ceases to be the bodily property of her husband whose primary function is to bear him children. The priest ceases to have the authority to speak on behalf of the woman. And despite what today's manshow might try to tell us, from the get go in the story of Christ, women are empowered to lead.

One of Pope Francis’s favourite devotions is to Mary, ‘the undoer of knots’. I like to think that in our work for women’s ordination, we are joining in that work of undoing — untying — the knots all the way back to creation so that women’s liberation in Christian faith and the world may fully florish.

*The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1 verses 57-66

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
"No. He will be called John."
But they answered her,
"There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
 and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
"What, then, will this child be?
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him."

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Therese Koturbash, WOW Communications Team