FAITH MATTERS What Mary Had In Mind: Service

MOTHER’S VISION INCLUDES LIFTING UP LOWLY

By ROGER JOSLIN

Posted: December 19, 2009 at 3:17 a.m.

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When Mary, the mother of Jesus, realized that she was pregnant she headed to the hills of Judea to discuss the matter with her cousin Elizabeth, who it turns out, was pregnant with John the Baptist.

Upon hearing Elizabeth’s proclamation that Mary and the child in her womb were both blessed and then witnessing the unborn John leaping in his mother’s womb, Mary was inspired to burst into song. I’ve always thought the scene was reminiscent of a Broadway musical and that Mary’s singing of the Magnificat would be better heard accompanied by a full orchestra.

But an orchestra would have been out of place, because this conversation between these pregnant relatives was a most intimate one. In fact, listening to the story I feel like something of an intruder, accidentally overhearing the telling of closely guarded secrets, shared between women of singular blessedness.

However, we, along with generations of men and women for 2,000 years, have been allowed into this most intimate of feminine disclosures, simply because the joy of the encounter could not be contained.

The Gospel writer Luke conveys the sense ofbursting forth with joy by allowing Mary to echo the words of the prophet Samuel’s mother, Hannah, words she uttered upon learning that she was finally with child. Both mothers’ songs recount the joy of mothers throughout history who anticipate the birth of children.

But there is much more to the story. For contained within Mary’s song is the essence, not just of longedfor children, but of the hope that God has for all creation. Mary anticipates the arrival, not just of her son, but of a better world.

Both Mary and Hannah are quoting an ancient hymn of thanksgiving and imagining the future that awaits their sons.

“He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.”

How could we have gotten it so wrong? If Marycould time travel to the present, her song of praise would surely be one of lament.

The proud that she had imagined would be scattered are instead gathered in gated communities. The powerful sit on thrones built by corporate greed. The lowly remain low. The hungry line up at food pantries.

And the rich congratulate themselves for being the beneficiaries of God’s blessing.

Even during a season of giving, the rich and powerful form alignments to prevent legislation that would provide fundamental health care for those that God would lift up.

Like all mothers, the mother of Jesus had a vision of greatness for her son.

The future that unfolded can’t be what the mother of Jesus had in mind. But still, with Christmas just a few days away, we continue to hope.

And we sing, with Hannah and Mary, their heartfelt song of joy and expectation.

But for those of us who are rich, and by the world’s standards, that includes almost all of us, this Advent song must be sung with a lump in our throat.

THE REV. ROGER JOSLIN IS THE VICAR AT ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN BENTONVILLE.

COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED AT ROGERJOSLIN@SBCGLOBAL.NET.

Religion, Pages 11 on 12/19/2009

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