Mary's prophetic psalm of praise and protest
Without looking we have arrived at the fourth Sunday
of Advent with its theme of love. As we rush headlong into Christmas we are
invited, on this day we traditionally focus on Mary, to stop and take a moment
to rest with Mary and Elisabeth in this intimate and holy moment.
With Mary we will sing and pray her prophetic psalm
of praise and protest. Yes protest. We are too used to singing it from our
place of privilege. This is the song of an invisible poor peasant girl from a
small unimportant village in a land under brutal occupation voicing God’s
protest against the powerful, important, wealthy and privileged elite who
defined who mattered and who didn’t. Her fear and uncertainty mingled with hope
and lead to her to voice what the outworking of God’s love looks like. God’s love
and justice starts with Mary, the God-bearer; and all the poor and so called unimportant
men and women who are defined by God as of utmost importance and value. We see
them today in migrant caravans, refugee camps, on our streets. The reign of God
is not good news for everyone.
In light of that psalm, as we approach Christmas
what might we need to let go of to live God’s love for: ourselves; our neighbours;
all humanity; creation?
Comments