1st Advent - Would you?

 An Advent Observance

I offer different observances of advent this year. Advent is always bit confusing for me. If you hadn’t noticed Jesus has already come, and gone, and will eventually return. Seeing how we treated him this last time he was here, it might be a while before he returns. Yes, I get that advent it is to remind us of the reason for Christmas. However, for us Christians I think there is a different approach that is called for. This different approach would reflect on the dynamics involved in his birth.

                For today and the next three Fridays, I want to offer Advent observations that have a different focus. This focus is on the women involved in the coming of our Lord. I am loathe to use the term feminist in describing this perspective. Not that I stand against feminism, but I want to avoid coopting the term. Secondly, far too often men, particularly old white men such as myself, have written about theologies and doctrines focused on women. Those have been presented as defining. An attempt to stifle discussion based on the belief that a concession has been made to women. I have no such desire.

 

Would you?

1. Luke 1.26 – 38

     What if Mary had said no? The question challenged me as I was reading through the gospel of Luke. What if Mary had said, “No.” I have probably watched the Peanuts Christmas far too many times. Either that or the overly sentimental portrayals of the angel Gabriel telling Mary what was about to happen. Our telling of Mary that she is about to be pregnant seems to lack any of the angst that I am sure she must have felt. I think the bible does sum up the tensions. “But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1.29)

God did not, nor does he now, send angels to announce trivial items. It ain’t like walking out the door one morning to go to work, Gabriel is going to appear and tell you the traffic is bad. Gabriel having delivered news that had been good, bad, and indifferent before, says, “Hey! Relax its good news.”

Mary would have recognized what he was talking about as he spoke. For Gabriel spoke of Israel’s redeemer in ways that she would have understood. It is well known that to be a prophet, to carry the word of the Lord, was not a commitment to be made lightly. That is why one of the first prophetic acts was to try to talk one’s way of this calling.

The costs of being a prophet were well known, and it was not a job one would choose to do. They were subject to physical violence. All told they were put in stocks: (Jer 20.2); or in chains (Jer 40.1); they were frequently imprisoned in cells, dungeons and cisterns (Jer 37.15&16; 38.6); they were threatened with death (1 Kings 19.1) and killed (2 Chron 24.21, Jer 26.20-23). Jesus gives us reason to believe there were many who surrendereed their lives (Luke 11.50-51).

To be asked to carry the Lord, could only have been even more so intimidating. Although Mary was told what was going to happen, her participation in the life of Christ required her agreement. She would have been asked. Of course, she was asked. God may have known from the beginning of creation what would come and the role that Mary would play. Yet, he would ask. It would have to be of her free-will.

Mary knew that this was not a nine month commitment. Although motherhood never is, she would have known the enormous burden she would bear. She knew that her ministry would be life long, and that it would end tragically. She might not have known the details, but she would know that her son would die violently. She also knew that as she was more than just his mother, that she would bear witness to his death.

The role of Mary was not a passive acceptance of a role chosen for her before the stars were put in place. Mary was an active participant in the redemption of the world. She knew that her task would carry more than the duties of motherhood. Yes, there would be soiled clothing to clean, puke, tears, and snot to wipe, a hungry mouth to feed, sickness tended to, scrapped knees kissed, and lullabies sung. All this done with the knowledge of the sorrow that would tinge her son’s life. We really don’t think about what she was asked to do during the exchange with Gabriel.

I don’t think my catholic siblings are wrong in venerating Mary. While I might not agree with what may have been their motivation, she deserves our respect, if not our adoration. We haven’t done a good job in holding women up as examples of our faith. The accusation that Mary of Magdala was a prostitute still abounds today. After all what other reason would Jesus have for wanting her around? It is with Mary of Nazareth that I think we foul things up most splendidly.

We pretend the answer was instant and easy. But would you lay down your life for him? We talk about being living sacrifices for Jesus. But do we really mean it? Would we agree to have every aspect of our lives changed so that the world could be redeemed? I hesitate to think of whether I would be willing.

Mary’s answer was profound in ways that we really can’t fathom. Not only did she give her answer knowing what the costs of it would be, but she had made that choice long before Gabriel asked it of her. In the Old Testament there those that are called the Anawim. Those who either by circumstance or choice are so destitute they have no other choice but to trust entirely in God. Mary was one such person. This is reflected in her answer, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And of us, what might our answer be?