There’s a beauty in this fourth Sunday in Advent, when we finally start to hear about Mary.
It would seem to me, if Advent were about earthly, chronological time, that she would be a rather central aspect of the season – yet here she is, kinda tucked in nicely as we’re in the final stages of preparations.
But: she’s here. That’s nice.
And so often that’s how we think of Mary: nicely.
She’s young, meek and mild;
Suddenly finding herself with that special glow, cradling her still flat belly as she learns the amazingly good news.
So much of the Renaissance era artwork shows her resting, hair down, lovely clean dress.
It’s nice.
Except… I’m not sure that “nice” is the descriptor that Mary would use for herself in this situation.
Not to say that she was NOT nice – just that she was so much MORE than a simple girl.
And there are a couple of ways that this was made known to us: and continue to inspire and strengthen us in our journey.
1. Her faith
2. Her Purity
She’s a feisty young woman, who knows her heart, and knows her faith.
She knows that she is capable of FAR more than anyone expected of her – not by her own merits, but by the grace of God.
It’s why she agreed when the angel Gabriel popped into the room and informed her of her unlikely pregnancy.
A fascinating event in and of itself:
Here we really understand that Mary was not meek and mild – because while we often celebrate Mary for saying yes to God, we can sometimes overlook that God didn’t *ask* her if she wanted this role; it was a pronouncement.
And Mary, instead of merely being the nice girl who accepts everything she’s told, makes it very clear that she knows – and heartily accepts – her calling.
She declares her faith and her agency when she responds to the angel.
“Let it be with me according to your word” is a strong statement from a strong woman, who knows and loves her God.
So let’s talk about her faith a bit more:
It’s a faith so strong that she puts herself at risk for the calling to which God has just revealed to her: that she will be the God-bearer, the theotokos – the one who will physically be responsible for the earthly life of the Messiah.
All pregnancies have risks, but this takes that stress to a new level.
For it put HER at risk, as well – this unmarried girl:
She was willing to lose her betrothed, be shamed by the community, cast out of her place of worship, rejected by her family: all because God said so.
And she knew these perils: it’s why today’s Gospel opens with Mary setting out with haste to her cousin’s place…
she’s hasty because she is in trouble – and she is fleeing to protect herself and her family.
It is her faith that takes her to Elizabeth; an elderly woman also unexpectedly pregnant.
And it is her faith that ensures that she hears Elizabeth’s words at her greeting: Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
Mary believed. Her faith was strong.
Her cousin affirmed this!
Even in the unexpected, and unlikely, she believed.
What an inspiration to us: to have the faith, the keep the faith, to strengthen our faith.
We never know what life might have for us around the next corner: but we do know we can nurture our faith to carry us through it.
Mary is also known for her Purity – and I am not speaking of the physicality – but this girl was of such pure heart that THAT is how history knew her. She demonstrated a prophetic commitment to justice and fairness that sent shockwaves through the community.
We only need to consider the Magnificat – the scriptures we just heard in the canticle today: to learn of just how radical Mary’s love was for the world.
To know that God is calling for the faithful to do the work of justice:
To lift up the lowly;
to fill the hungry;
to support the vulnerable of the society;
to work with people to restore and maintain dignity, value, and mercy.
All as a response to the love of God that had been offered and received.
Mary’s song of praise, glorifying God – doesn’t change her situation; it doesn’t mean her newly pregnant status is suddenly going to be without challenges:
there will still be the awkward conversations with family,
the judgemental side-eyes from neighbours,
the physiological toll on her body as the child grew within her…
Yet: Mary’s song of praise speaks to the souls of all who would hear it: calling forth a purity of heart that inspires generations.
So pure was Mary’s love for humanity – all of humanity – that being nice wasn’t going to be enough.
Nice doesn’t change the world: radical love can.
So today: let’s be mindful of the opportunity to learn from Mary in ways that perhaps we have not considered before.
May God break us out of “nice” behaviour when we need to be more than just “nice”:
To shake us awake from complacency and instead invigorate us to actions that live the model of Mary:
That our faith may give us the knowledge and courage to engage with the world, seeing everyone in it as wonderfully loved into being by the Creator of the Cosmos.
That our hearts will shed the prejudice and cynicism that society normalises, that we can be radically loving, with pure hearts that seek out ways to live justly.
That our convictions will empower us to be confident in our lives, as well as being agents of change, to work side-by-side with all those who strive to shine the light of Christ in the world.
May we accept and receive the gift from today’s scriptures – from both Mary and Elizabeth - that we are to take what has been gifted to us, and embrace it – whether we think it good or not-so-good: trusting that when something comes from God, it will change us, empower us, encourage us, and enliven us:
To be the people of God; rejoicing in God, proclaiming hope, and doing our part to make the world ready to receive the Saviour.
For he comes:
And it’s so much better than “nice”.
It would seem to me, if Advent were about earthly, chronological time, that she would be a rather central aspect of the season – yet here she is, kinda tucked in nicely as we’re in the final stages of preparations.
But: she’s here. That’s nice.
And so often that’s how we think of Mary: nicely.
She’s young, meek and mild;
Suddenly finding herself with that special glow, cradling her still flat belly as she learns the amazingly good news.
So much of the Renaissance era artwork shows her resting, hair down, lovely clean dress.
It’s nice.
Except… I’m not sure that “nice” is the descriptor that Mary would use for herself in this situation.
Not to say that she was NOT nice – just that she was so much MORE than a simple girl.
And there are a couple of ways that this was made known to us: and continue to inspire and strengthen us in our journey.
1. Her faith
2. Her Purity
She’s a feisty young woman, who knows her heart, and knows her faith.
She knows that she is capable of FAR more than anyone expected of her – not by her own merits, but by the grace of God.
It’s why she agreed when the angel Gabriel popped into the room and informed her of her unlikely pregnancy.
A fascinating event in and of itself:
Here we really understand that Mary was not meek and mild – because while we often celebrate Mary for saying yes to God, we can sometimes overlook that God didn’t *ask* her if she wanted this role; it was a pronouncement.
And Mary, instead of merely being the nice girl who accepts everything she’s told, makes it very clear that she knows – and heartily accepts – her calling.
She declares her faith and her agency when she responds to the angel.
“Let it be with me according to your word” is a strong statement from a strong woman, who knows and loves her God.
So let’s talk about her faith a bit more:
It’s a faith so strong that she puts herself at risk for the calling to which God has just revealed to her: that she will be the God-bearer, the theotokos – the one who will physically be responsible for the earthly life of the Messiah.
All pregnancies have risks, but this takes that stress to a new level.
For it put HER at risk, as well – this unmarried girl:
She was willing to lose her betrothed, be shamed by the community, cast out of her place of worship, rejected by her family: all because God said so.
And she knew these perils: it’s why today’s Gospel opens with Mary setting out with haste to her cousin’s place…
she’s hasty because she is in trouble – and she is fleeing to protect herself and her family.
It is her faith that takes her to Elizabeth; an elderly woman also unexpectedly pregnant.
And it is her faith that ensures that she hears Elizabeth’s words at her greeting: Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
Mary believed. Her faith was strong.
Her cousin affirmed this!
Even in the unexpected, and unlikely, she believed.
What an inspiration to us: to have the faith, the keep the faith, to strengthen our faith.
We never know what life might have for us around the next corner: but we do know we can nurture our faith to carry us through it.
Mary is also known for her Purity – and I am not speaking of the physicality – but this girl was of such pure heart that THAT is how history knew her. She demonstrated a prophetic commitment to justice and fairness that sent shockwaves through the community.
We only need to consider the Magnificat – the scriptures we just heard in the canticle today: to learn of just how radical Mary’s love was for the world.
To know that God is calling for the faithful to do the work of justice:
To lift up the lowly;
to fill the hungry;
to support the vulnerable of the society;
to work with people to restore and maintain dignity, value, and mercy.
All as a response to the love of God that had been offered and received.
Mary’s song of praise, glorifying God – doesn’t change her situation; it doesn’t mean her newly pregnant status is suddenly going to be without challenges:
there will still be the awkward conversations with family,
the judgemental side-eyes from neighbours,
the physiological toll on her body as the child grew within her…
Yet: Mary’s song of praise speaks to the souls of all who would hear it: calling forth a purity of heart that inspires generations.
So pure was Mary’s love for humanity – all of humanity – that being nice wasn’t going to be enough.
Nice doesn’t change the world: radical love can.
So today: let’s be mindful of the opportunity to learn from Mary in ways that perhaps we have not considered before.
May God break us out of “nice” behaviour when we need to be more than just “nice”:
To shake us awake from complacency and instead invigorate us to actions that live the model of Mary:
That our faith may give us the knowledge and courage to engage with the world, seeing everyone in it as wonderfully loved into being by the Creator of the Cosmos.
That our hearts will shed the prejudice and cynicism that society normalises, that we can be radically loving, with pure hearts that seek out ways to live justly.
That our convictions will empower us to be confident in our lives, as well as being agents of change, to work side-by-side with all those who strive to shine the light of Christ in the world.
May we accept and receive the gift from today’s scriptures – from both Mary and Elizabeth - that we are to take what has been gifted to us, and embrace it – whether we think it good or not-so-good: trusting that when something comes from God, it will change us, empower us, encourage us, and enliven us:
To be the people of God; rejoicing in God, proclaiming hope, and doing our part to make the world ready to receive the Saviour.
For he comes:
And it’s so much better than “nice”.
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