Ramblings on a Journey The Reverend Kathy Peters December 12, 2014 “…for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1: 49) I have always marveled at the telling of Mary’s story. She makes no excuses when the angel asks her to be the mother of God, no trying to get out of the task…she simply inquires “How can this be…?” Denise Levertov in an Advent poem called Annunciation which I read last week (thank you Eileen Sypher for sending it our way!) wrote: “The engendering Spirit did not enter her (Mary) without consent. God waited She was free to accept or refuse, choice integral to humanness.” Yet Mary did say yes…”God has done great things for me”, she proclaims and a child is born..a world is changed. Did she know the rough road that lie ahead ...and would she have said yes if she had known? None of us can ever know for certain what our lives will be…even those of us who think that we can control it all. Mary’s great act of courage has always moved me to wonder what any of us would have done if the same request was made of us. Levertov raises that exact question in her poem when she writes: “Aren’t there annunciations of one sort or another in most lives?” Some she says “unwillingly” take on great tasks but more often than not the answer is no thank you God, I am too afraid…please choose someone else! I have raised the question a number of times, wondering how many Gabriel needed to approach before Mary said yes? The God I know may never coerce but She also never gives up! God waits very well I think! We clergy folk often talk about “call” and I do believe that call means listening to what God wants us to do with our lives that will best use our gifts and talents for the benefit of the world. How many of us do that or even recognize that all work can be done to make the world a better place. Yet how often do we just say “no”? Levertov says: “More often those moments when roads of light and storm open from darkness in a man or woman, are turned away from in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair and with relief. Ordinary lives continue. God does not smite them. But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.” “...the gates close, the pathway vanishes” and because of fear or doubt or lack of courage, we say no to God. God does not smite but I wonder how often God weeps at lost opportunities. God has done great things for me! God open me to listen and say yes (at least once in a while) to the great and small things you are asking of me so that my soul may magnify your holy name! Amen “And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ (Isaiah 30:21) A word of caution about this reflection: as always (!) it is only “ramblings” about my journey of faith, not a “to do” list for your journey! It is my hope that I might spark a thought or a reflection or an insight that will be helpful to you on your own journey of faith. Feel free to pass it on if you think it might be helpful to anyone else! If you would like to respond directly please do so at [email protected]. Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; 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. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 15:30:24 +0000
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