Day Twenty-six: We're almost there. The Virgin's Song

Day Twenty-six: We're almost there. The Virgin's Song

Artwork courtesy of Rhonda Lovell*

Tonight let us begin with a song:

Luke 1:46-55 "My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Saviour, because He has looked upon the humble state of His servant.
He has demonstrated power with his arm; He has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy, as He promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to His descendants forever. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name; from generation to generation He is merciful to those who fear Him."

Can you imagine a young girl barely beyond her childhood? Maybe fifteen; she is passing through a village of mud walled and thatched roofed buildings. On her back, bundled in a worn length of coloured blanket is her infant. In her belly, another child. She is thin. She is so young! The image shocks me still. It was my first encounter with this aspect of life among the Kuria tribe of Tanzania.

Can we imagine anything more vulnerable than a child bearing her children? Each Christmas we are given this very image in Mary. Yet too often we run from her - the image spoils our nativity scene. The truth of Mary is too stark; it shocks and unsettles us. So in our imagination we subdue and reform her public image. We add a few years to her age. We mature her. We clean her up. We dress her in white silk; we drape her in a clean blue period appropriate costume - no tatters, no tears, nothing threadbare. We pass quickly by the archaic claim of her virginity. We're ok with her being a single mom. We liberalize her village and minimize the peril brought on by this pregnancy - violence is such a downer at Christmas time. After all, it is a silent night - a Holy night - a quiet night - when lullabies of heavenly peace are sung. Christmas is no time to consider the physical, criminal, social and religious threats. Let us keep it easy and accessible.

But Mary is important to our Christmas. As we reform Mary we take away her voice. Mary was not a defiant modern activist, a reformer, a rebel, a revolutionary, a militant nor was she a zealot - yet her voice sings out at Christmas and she has something very necessary to say. Will we listen? 

We look for Hope. We look for Peace. We yearn to be Loved. We wander the highways and byways of life seeking our self fulfillment in self reliance believing this to be the key to the contentment we lack. But then there is this child mother; powerless, in poverty, judged and rejected who in her peril sings praise full of the Joy and the contentment we lack. Mary is the precise opposite of the self-fulfillment and self reliance we chase, yet she is full of the Joy and contentment we desire. How can this be?

Mary does not claim she has done a great thing. Mary herself says she is a slave, a servant in the lowliest state. She is marginalized, she is in trouble and as her belly swells she moves further down the road of her rejection. Mary know's God's Law and know's too well the criminal, social, marital and religious implications being deliberated upon all around her. In all of this she concentrates her mind on God's glory and in her heart she thanks Him. How can this be?

In Mary we hear Scripture's song - a song sung from Genesis to Revelation. This song resonates with strains of innocent trust in and obedience to God; these strains form notes and these notes communicate the symphony of Joy that rings across every verse of Scripture. It is the symphony of worship. The lead part this night is sung by a virgin child in direst peril - yet her song is a pure song sung in a mother's love to bring hope, peace, love and joy. In this song tonight, in the soft voice of a young mother we hear the persistent call of God. Will we listen? Do we ever?

Tonight, let us welcome this Christmas in the very depths of our heart. Can we see the full tapestry God has woven into this Holy Night? Let us hear the symphony and choral of Christmas in Joy. Let us hear the virgin's song. Let us ponder in our hearts the witness of this child mother. Let us hear her as she is. For unto us a child IS born - this child born of the virgin is the answer we seek. Let us listen. Let us adore Him, this Christ of Christmas.

Our final Scripture for this Christmas Eve

Be blessed this night and by it be blessed always. Merry Christmas.

*thank you Rhonda!