May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen
Those words from this mornings gospel reading ... of Mary are words of immense importance … a declaration of who the child is and who he will be - a description of what God is up to in and through her but also what will be happening once the Child in her womb is born.
This morning I would love us to stop for a moment at this juncture … before we celebrate Christmas and think about Mary.
In Ireland, due to our history, particularly we have many images of of the Blessed Virgin Mary … one just has to drive around the roads here and we see statues to her.
Of course we as a church look to Mary as an example of faithfulness and also a woman called by God uniquely in salvation history
Much has been written and debated across the centruries … for anyone looking to take this study further …check out ARCIC on Mary - available her http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/angl-comm-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20050516_mary-grace-hope-christ_en.html
This document which appears on the Vatican website repeats what Both the anglican and Roman Catholic Church can agree upon - What we must be clear on is that:
- that any interpretation of the role of Mary must not obscure the unique mediation of Christ;
- that we recognize the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Theotókos, the mother of God incarnate, and so observe her festivals and accord her honour among the saints;
- that Mary was prepared by grace to be the mother of our Redeemer, by whom she herself was redeemed and received into glory;
- that we recognize Mary as a model of holiness, faith and obedience for all Christians; and
- that Mary can be seen as a prophetic figure of the Church.
It’s this prophetic role I would like to pick up on this morning - for a few moments
Prophetic - is either fore-telling or forth-telling
In other words - a prophet is someone who tells what is going to happen in the future or what should and needs to happen in the future.
Mary in the Magificat - does state both what the Child in her womb is going to do and also what needs to happen
Mary paints a magnificent word picture of what the kingdom of God is going to be like - a vision that is attractive to the powerless, the vulnerable, the poor and the underdog.
Its not too attractive for the powerful, the exploiter, the rich and the bully.
Mary in her faithfulness shows what God can do with a single life who is ready to say yes to God.
Mary in this prophetic role is powerful
<< This has been doing the rounds on Facebook -from a nativity play last year >>
As I watched this time and again … I see Mary in this picture as someone not going to take things that aren’t meant to be (we'll not go much further with this imagery! ;-)
When we read elsewhere in the Gospels … Mary prompting Jesus, Mary having her heart broken, Mary in her supportive role
But her prophetic role here … stating the what this child will become - This Christmas … as we pause … we have the kingdom of God being proclaimed here.
So what are we to make of the Magificat … Mary’s song
E. Stanley Jones, a famous preacher of two generations ago, said that the Magnificat is “the most revolutionary document in the world.”
Geldenhese, a Dutch theologian, said that the Magificat “announces powerful revolutionary principles.”
Murrow, another theologian, talks about the “revolutionary germ” found in the Magnificat.
Barclay, an English theologian, says that the Magificat is “a bombshell.” Barclay goes on to say that people have read it so often that they have forgotten its “revolutionary terror.” It takes “the standards of the world and turns them upside down.” Barclay teaches that in the Magnificat, there are three revolutions:
“an economic revolution; a political revolution; and a moral revolution.”
Still another author says that the Magnificat “terrified the Russian Czars.”
Martin Luther, the father of the Lutheran church, says that the Magnificat “comforts the lowly and terrifies the rich.”
Gilmore said that the Magnificat “fosters revolutionaries in our churches.” He says that “the Church needs the leaven of discontent, and the Magnifcat makes the church strive against poverty and wretchedness.”
As we come to Christmas for another year … are we prepared to accept the revelation of the Christ Child - that actually there is a revolutionary message that the church has turned on its head - that we have somewhat sanitised and accepted the message that the world proclaims that it is a lovely story and makes us feel good but nothing more.
One Commentator sums this up quite well when he says Those who know God and his grace will echo Mary’s song. We do not have the honour of giving birth to the Saviour of the World, but we do have the blessing of becoming one of his children. The promises God makes to his humble children, revealed by Mary in her hymn of praise, are promises in which we share.
Casting Crowns wrote a song which is a wonderful piece of poetry - have a listen to it.
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, you'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who you're making me
Somewhere in the middle, you'll find me
Just how close can I get, lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the god we want and the god who is
But will we trade our dreams for his or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Just how close can I get, lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the god we want and the god who is
But will we trade our dreams for his or are we caught in the middle
Lord, I feel you in this place and I know you're by my side
Loving me even on these nights, when I'm caught in the middle
Caught in the middle
2018 we look back on with all sorts of feelings for some its been a great year, for some a mixed blessings year, for others it may have been a horrid year.
2019 is on the horizon - I wonder when we get to this time next year what are we going to look back on - will we be in the same place or do we have a bit of a vision for what could be birthed in our lives, in our community, what is God calling us collectively to, to you personally to. The magnificat was Mary’s song … her calling out what should be and needs to be. This is also not just for young people … its for all of us … remember how God used Abraham and Sarah, Noah,
This all began with a young woman saying yes to the Lord, this revolution began with a simple let it be according to your will. What is your vision … what are you prepared to see brought to fruition
Lets pray
