A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
20 December 2020
So often in the history of the Church, Mary has been worshipped as a stained-glass window saint; perfect; an object of worship. Alternatively, as a reaction against this, she has been ignored. But Mary was a real woman.
Some years ago now, it become important to me to explore what a flesh and blood Mary had to say to people today. The outcome of my exploration was the following meditation.
It explores some of the dreams Mary may have had as a girl, and how these may have been shattered when the Angel visited her. It moves on to consider what my own reactions may have been if I had been asked to be Jesus’ mother. Finally, it thanks Mary for what she did and the sacrifices she made in giving birth to Jesus.
THEOTOKOS: BROKEN DREAMS
Is this what you had in mind Mary?
Is this what you dreamed of, idly planned and chattered of with the girls in Nazareth?
Did you dream that your first child would be
born out of wedlock
of an unknown father?
born miles from home
in squalor and filth
in a hole fit only for animals?
Is this the birth you dreamed of for your first child?
Did you dream your first born Son would be
greeted by strangers?
greeted by shepherds,
outcasts of society?
greeted by wise men
from strange far-off countries?
greeted by the host of angels?
Is this the welcome you dreamed of for your Son?
Did you dream of this life for your first born Son?
A birth in a stable?
A desperate flight for safety?
A life as a refugee?
A peripatetic life?
A life in which other women cared for him?
A life with no wife, no family?
A life lived in the shadow of hostility?
A life ending in a criminal’s death?
A horrific death?
Is this the life you dreamed of for your Son?
Did you dream of your own life?
A happy marriage?
A growing family?
Sons and daughters to care for you into old age?
Did you dream of this for your own life?
And if you had known, in those days of idle teenage chatter, as a girl in Nazareth
that an angel would visit you.
that you would bear God’s Son.
that your Son would be born in squalor and filth
days walk from home.
that you would flee for his life
and live as refugees.
that your Son would live a wandering life
in the shadow of hostility and worse.
that your Son would die a criminal’s death,
a horrific death you would witness,
would you have said ‘yes’ to God’s angel so quickly?
Mary did you say ‘yes’ to God’s angel so quickly?
Did you offer yourself to God so fast?
Was there no feeling of wanting to think?
No sense of anger, injustice, even,
that God could take your body and life so easily?
Did you really understand all that was being said?
All that was being asked?
And would I have been so willing?
Would I have been so willing
to offer myself to bear God’s Son?
To bear the shame and disgrace
of bearing a child of an unknown father outside of marriage?
Would I have watched my own Son die?
Would I have lived with the wound of knowledge,
a sword which pierced my heart?
Would I have lived with the burden of unknowing?
I doubt it.
Thank you, Mary, that you did.
You heard and looked, observed and listened.
Lived with the pain of unknowing.
Lived with the shadow of the cross.
Not as a stained glass window saint,
not as some saccharine coated statue,
but as a flesh and blood woman
who knew what it meant
to bear the burden of unknowing,
and was prepared to live the pain
of bearing God.
© S Anne Lawson
Published in Hay and Stardust
© Ruth Burgess 2005
Prayer for 20 December 2020
The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Eternal God,
as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,
so we wait for his coming in glory;
bring us through the birth-pangs of this present age
to see, with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Post Communion Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Heavenly Father,
who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of the promised saviour:
fill us with your grace,
that in all things we may embrace your holy will
and with her rejoice in your salvation:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Gathered as the Church of God, let us pray together for the coming of the kingdom.
Lord of heaven, may the Church
be quiet enough to hear your voice,
humble enough to move your way,
and excited enough to spread the good news.
Living God:
let your kingdom come.
Lord of heaven, bless all who lead
with integrity and respect for others;
bless all in positions of authority
with humility and a sense of right;
may unjust practices be changed for good
and conflicts of great tension
be peacefully resolved.
Living God:
let your kingdom come.
Lord of heaven, make our homes
places of loving acceptance and developing faith;
teach us in all our friendships
to grow in generosity of spirit.
Living God:
let your kingdom come.
Lord of heaven, give patience and courage
to all who have to wait,
when the waiting is long and painful;
bring healing to all who are wounded,
whether physically or emotionally,
and give them assurance of your presence.
Living God:
let your kingdom come.
Lord of heaven, we give you thanks for
those who have died to this life,
and whose hope was in you.
Comfort those who mourn them
and reach into their pain with your love.
Living God
let your kingdom come.
Lord of heaven, we thank you
for your faithful promise to us,
fulfilled in the coming of Jesus.
We welcome his kingship in our lives.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
© Susan Sayers (adapted)
HYMNS
