Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
James 5:7-8
Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation
She might say no.
In fact, without the possibility of no, a true yes cannot exist. Mary absolutely had the choice of saying no and all these years and layers of reflection later, we cannot know but only imagine—along with our artists, just what she considered, how she must have felt, and what expression was on her face.
In Genesis 2, God forms humankind out of the clay of the earth and breathes life into that clay. Could not God have chosen, once again, to be become en-fleshed in such a way, by once again taking earth and breathing life into it? Jesus could have arrived on the scene with unknown origins. God, being God, could have acted unilaterally to become human through his own singular volition.
Yet, God chose otherwise. He chose to so fully enter into human existence as to experience birth and to depend upon the will and cooperation of another. He chose to wait upon Mary. Everything was conditional upon her and her saying "yes.”
"….she might have said no”
In waiting upon Mary, God dignifies Mary...
dignifies her,
womanhood,
humanity,
free will.
God, who has no beginning, chooses to be subjected to the free choices of others, in this case, Mary. This honors the foundational human condition that we do not get to act unilaterally.
We, too, are subject to the choices made by others. We benefit by the choices made by others. Almost every civil holiday recalls and celebrates that we enjoy our freedom because of the sacrifices of others. We are here because of the choices of others—to conceive, bear, educate and raise us, to plant crops, build roads, hospitals and schools.
But we also suffer at the choices made by others. On a global scale, we are born into a certain time and place, just like Jesus was, and we inherit all that means. The world has made selfish and calamitous choices throughout history, up to and including our own time. We are capable at any time of turning on the TV and finding our world is suddenly, irrevocably changed. And on a smaller, personal scale, we suffer from the poor choices of those we love--perhaps, the most difficult of all.
When we suffer the consequences of others' choices, it is an experience that God understands full well. We can take that to prayer confident that God, too, understands, loves the other, and has grace and wisdom to sustain us.
TO PRAY AND PONDER: For those difficult times when people you love have made choices that worry you, or the circumstances of our larger world worry you, remember that this is the human condition that God has chosen to enter and God, being God, can bring grace to bear in any situation. Pray for that.
"I am thankful for finishing my first quarter at the university,” becomes:
"I am thankful TO my parents paying my tuition, the good teachers who prepared me, especially Ms. Devine, my 3rd grade teacher, and good friends who helped me study, etc.”
"I am grateful for good health,” now adds:
"I am thankful TO God for the gift of life and healing to the doctors and nurses who helped me with chemo, my family and friends who gave me support our church community who prayed for me, etc.”
Notice the difference? A subtle reminder that it’s not about us. Nothing we have or do is because of ourselves alone. We are all interconnected, and most roads lead back to the One who provides for us—for that, let us give thanks.
AND, this weekend, Advent begins. Watch your inbox for a weekly Advent newsletter from Sisters in Scripture. To help you prepare for the coming of Christ, each week a sample of the Advent retreat, ONCE UPON A TIME IN A TOWN CALLED NAZARETH will be sent your way. Enjoy and share with friends.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kathleen
TO DO: This Advent create your own "Angelus bell." Set your phone to chime or vibrate at noon or some other time that works for you. Stop. Be still. Remember the good intention you want to bring to the day. Just as Mary was called to participate in God's plan for humanity, so are we invited to say "yes" in our particular time and place, to bring about God's saving plan where we are. In that moment, let the angel approach you reverently, hopefully, "Will you let God's Love be carried within you...?
NEXT WEEK:
Mary sings her "yes" to God!
Interested in hosting a future Advent Retreat or other event, please contact Kathleen. To learn more about Sisters in Scripture, visit us at Sisters in Scripture. You'll find a recent clip of Kathleen speaking at United Lutheran, Bella Vista, AR on the About Kathleen page.