December 18, 2011

Texts: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

Very often, we continue reading with scarcely a breath at this point. I think that, so often, we gloss over the fact that Mary is pregnant. Likely in the throes of morning sickness, probably someplace between 12 and 14 years old, and in a society that one commentator indicates that young women who became pregnant outside of marriage risked being stoned for their behaviors, I wonder if Mary was going to visit Elizabeth because she had no other choice. What would the neighbors say? “There goes that Mary girl… she always seemed so nice, but now look at her,” or “I heard Joseph was going to leave her,” or, “her poor parents,” clucking their tongues in response to the news.

I imagine Mary, walking through the desert, tears streaming down her face, wondering if Gabriel coming to her had just been a dream. Stumbling from being tired, with no mention of a parent, guardian, or companion along the way, I wonder if she started to doubt the promises of God. The voices playing over and over in her head, “Yeah right, Mary, we all know where babies come from!” Crying and yelling, “God, I can’t do this. Nobody will believe me. Hello, are you out there?” questioning the divine as only a teenage young woman can.

I imagine her sitting on a rock outside Zechariah and Elizabeth’s place, drying her face, still snuffling, her eyes red from the tears. Elizabeth hears her approach and, seeing her, her stomach lurches, “And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” The promises were real! She didn’t imagine Gabriel’s visit! God did keep his promises! And Mary dances into Elizabeth’s arms, swinging her in a circle in joy that is part woman but still part girl. It is not until after the promise, it is not until after the journey, it is not until she hears Elizabeth’s words that confirm the angel’s visit, that she delivers the song anticipating the life she carries within her: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

The voices that told her she was just a peasant girl from the wrong side of the tracks have been turned on their heads. This is a new beginning, a fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham and his descendants forever. The fulfillment of the promise does not presuppose its end, but rather its beginning. God is faithful, and God is faithful in ways that exceed our expectations for his faithfulness. Where we doubt, God gives faith. Where we despair, God brings hope. God has loved us despite our being unlovable. In the face of our sin, God has sent a savior. Where we imagine an end, God imagines a beginning. Each year, we anticipate this new beginning, bringing with it eager anticipation for God’s advent in our lives. So we journey, with Mary and Joseph, with the angels and archangels, with the shepherds and the wise men, with the doubters and the prodigals, to the manger. And, as we know, it’s only the beginning.

Image Henry Ossawa Tanner's "The Annunciation"