Advent Reflection - Mary

Joseph packed up the donkey and got ready to leave. They would leave at sundown to avoid a shameful parade down the main street of the village under the weight of all those judging eyes.

When they finally left there were no farewells. Neither Joseph’s family nor his in-laws turned up to see them off. And though a number of others in the village were travelling together to Bethlehem, Joseph knew instinctively that they wouldn’t be welcome, even with those men he had known his whole life.

Not much by way of conversation passed between them in those early miles. Each of them was lost in their questions over events of recent months. Joseph busied himself with the things men worry about on long trips. To Mary’s eyes, he looked more burdened than the donkey and could she really blame him?

As she pondered everything in her heart, she remembered again the Angel’s words

She had been convinced Joseph would send her away and that she would become one of those women her mother always warned her about. And he still hadn’t talked about what had happened, why he had so suddenly changed his mind only days after he reacted with fury to her news.

She had already determined that no matter what he did and no matter what had became of her she would carry this baby to term. No matter what everyone said about her, God was in this. And she knew it. Even if nobody else believed her, she saw the significance of the child she carried, a child she was convinced would change the world.

Yet she could still hardly believe that God would do such a thing through her – an uneducated, illiterate, poor unmarried pregnant teenager. She understood that though this child would never overcome the petty prejudices of his local town, they would always see him as an illegitimate child.

And she knew that through him there would be a change in the way of the world.

Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Cracks have appeared in foundations of the existing social order. This humble girl has been honoured. The arrogantly powerful are about to be brought low. And those who are hungry will be fed, because of the birth of this baby there is hope in all the dark places of the world.

Comments

[Pistol Pete]

Great job bringing the text to life. Artfully done. This was a good early morning devotion for me.