Word to the Wise
Monday, March 26, 2007 - The Annunciation of the Lord
[Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38]Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
These words have become one of the most common ways of viewing the role of Mary, mother of Jesus! For some it is a matter of totally passive submission to an unknown plan of God. For others it is an eager declaration of willingness to participate in God's grand plan, whatever it is. To an American culture of individualism, wedded to options and suspicious of lasting commitments, Mary's "Fiat!" seems rather foolish. After all, who knows what tomorrow may bring? Why should anyone want to commit oneself long term to anyone else's 'big picture?' To a person of faith, Mary's act is truly a leap of faith! It certainly did not play out as a bed of roses! The prediction of Simeon about the piercing sword came true! There were times when Jesus seemed to distance himself from her! And she had the terrible sorrow of seeing him tortured and crucified. Some would find her persevering commitment difficult to understand. If, however, one thinks about motherhood in general and one's feelings about one's own child, especially if the child is an only child, Mary's commitment wouldn't seem so strange. This is one time when theology can be helped by ordinary human relationships. It is a mistake to make Mary into some kind of "super woman" or a mere robot who simply did as she was told. If it is heresy to deny the human nature of Christ, it is certainly heresy of a strange sort to deny the humanity of Mary! The feast of the Annunciation of the Lord can bring our attention to our own participation in God's "big picture." We might even see "in retrospect" or through intuition the hand of providence in certain decisions we make. I know I have had that experience. We all find it difficult to "get the big picture when we're living inside the frame," but we have to trust God. That's what Mary did! AMEN
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