Feast of St. Mary the Virgin       

The homily as delivered by Reverend Deacon Janet Schisser, August 17 2008                 

May the message of God be heard through my voice.  Amen.

 

When one mentions The Blessed Virgin Mary, especially within an Anglican setting, it seems there is always a reaction.  An Episcopal convert’s reaction is probably dependent on their previous faith tradition, and how they have tried to justify or to overcome the “Mary” teachings of that tradition.  I grew up as a Methodist, where there was very little said about Mary, other than reading the Christmas story.  When I was a senior in college, I converted to Roman Catholicism and remained there for several years.  The Catholic Church pays great devotion to Mary, including making some claims that are not found in Holy Scripture – two of which were addressed by Anglicans at the time of separation from Rome.  Since becoming an Episcopalian, I’ve been encouraged to think for myself, and come to my own conclusions – conclusions that I’ve had to defend on many occasions during multiple formation processes.  So, I’ve given Mary a lot of thought, and am delighted to have an opportunity to share my thoughts about her today. 

 

The honor given to Mary goes back to the earliest days of the Church.  Two Gospels, Matthew and Luke tell of Christ’s birth, and both of those Christmas stories testify to the belief that Jesus was born of a virgin.   There are many aspects of the whole Christmas story that have become theologically controversial, with that being one of them.  And, that controversy carries over into how people feel about honoring Mary in general.  In my opinion, if we don’t honor Mary, we’re missing out on a woman that played a very uniquely important role in God’s plan.

 

The Gospel we just read and the _introit?__ the choir sang, are called The Magnificat, or Mary’s Song.  It’s a frequent option in our Book of Common Prayer to be read in Morning and Evening Prayer and during other services.  The scriptural setting comes during what we call the Visitation – that’s when Mary ran to share her news with her cousin, Elizabeth.  Her news was that she was literally to conceive and bear a son who would be the savior of the world, the Prince of Peace.   The angel Gabriel had just told Mary that she was to be the mother of God. 

 

Elizabeth was also with child.  Both women were delighted with their situations and blessed to be together.  Leading in to the Magnificat, Elizabeth said, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”  

 

Mary’s song acknowledges both her humility and her sense of being honored by God.  She acknowledges her belief in the fulfillment of God’s promise both to her and to Israel.  She acknowledges her belief in God’s mercy and God’s strength.  And, in the middle (verses 51, 52 & 53), she acknowledges God’s revolutionary plan for life in Christ –

1. “He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts” … Christianity is to be the death of pride because if people set their lives beside that of Jesus, it makes their pride unwarranted.

2. “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly”  Christianity is to put an end to the world’s social strata.  When we realize that Christ died for each and every one of us, it is no longer possible to regard anyone as being beneath us.

3. “He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”  A non-Christian society is one where people want to acquire as much as they can.  A Christian society is – or at least should be – one where no one dares have too much while others have too little.   – I ask you:  Which description fits us?

 

We would do well to repeat this song often, and really pay attention to what it says. 

 

 

Mary’s response to Gabriel’s announcement gives us a glimpse of who she was.  The thought of her future must have been frightening, because it was uncertain at best.  As an unmarried pregnant woman, she was facing the probability of treatment as an outcast, the possibility of being stoned to death as a harlot, and the almost certainty that Joseph, her betrothed, would reject her.  I can’t help but think there was some kind of hesitation – a “Say what!?” – but that’s not how it’s reported.   When Gabriel had finished, Mary expressed the feeling of being both honored and humbled.  And, even if there was some hesitation, she responded willingly, gracefully, and positively, having little idea of what lay ahead.  She freely agreed to submit to God’s will … “May it be with me as you have said.”

 

In spite of the genealogy that is important in showing the descendancy of Jesus, I think his birth is an extraordinary event that takes place using ordinary people in ordinary places.  Did God really plan that Peace on Earth could come about in such a simple way?  He didn’t use people with super powers.

Mary – a child herself, unmarried, willingly accepting God’s presence in her body, and the shame and disgrace that that entailed from people who did not understand, and

Joseph – had plans for marriage, a family and a simple life as a carpenter.  But, he too, willingly took on the difficulties that came from accepting Mary and the Christ child. 

Baby Jesus – not ordinary, but lying as any newborn

infant, sucking on his mother’s breast, holding his adoptive father’s finger. 

There’s also Elizabeth – too old and barren to be pregnant – but give birth she did, and

Her husband, Zechariah – struck mute because of his doubt that it could happen.

Even the innkeeper – opening his stable to strangers in need

 

An extraordinary event brought about through ordinary people in ordinary places.  Let me give you a picture painted by Jean Paul Sartre:  The Virgin is pale, and she looks at the baby.  What I would paint on her face is an anxious wonderment, such as has never before been seen on a human face.  For Christ is her baby, flesh of her flesh, and the fruit of her womb.  She has carried him for nine months, and she will give him her breast, and her milk will become the blood of God.   There are moments when the temptation is so strong that she forgets that he is God.  She folds him in her arms and says: My little one.

 

Mary was above all a Mother.  For her, Jesus was first of all a son.  She was the person closest to him during his impressionable years.  She was thrilled by the baby’s first coos, and the words that had to develop into language.  She celebrated the toddler’s first steps.  She was the mother of a pre-teen who disobeyed, and failed to communicate when he stayed behind in the temple. 

 

Of course, her son was also her Lord, as he is ours.  Her son was that 12-year-old boy who was allowed to sit with the teachers, asking questions, and amazing them with his understanding and his answers.  At that time, Mary’s reaction was natural – “Child, why have you treated us like this?  Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety!”  (Lk 2:48)  How many times have you mothers – and fathers – said something similar to your child.  An ordinary woman, living an extraordinary life.

 

Mary was the Jewish mother who made her son help a wedding host who had run out of wine.  I love the dialogue of that story – Mary said “They have no wine.”  That’s all – just presented the problem to Jesus, and expected him to fix it.  Jesus responded “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?  My hour has not yet come.”  She totally ignores his response, and tells the servants “Do whatever he tells you.”  And, Jesus did it!  Again, I’d like to insert a more human and ordinary part of the conversation – Jesus rolling his eyes, and saying “Oh, Mother!” 

 

An ordinary woman, living an extraordinary life.

 

During Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, Mary was often with the other women who followed him and ministered to his needs.  There’s one time, reported by Mark, when Jesus was inside a house and a crowd gathered that was so big, he and his disciples were not even able to eat.  Mary and her other sons came but couldn’t get in.  They sent word to him that they were there, and his response was,  “Who are my mother and my brothers? … Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”   That had to have been hurtful to her, but still she followed him.

 

And, she was there … at Calvary … keeping watch with the little band of disciples.  How could a mother watch what was happening to her son?  I cannot imagine the depth of her grief.

 

She missed out on being at the tomb on the third day, but she was with the disciples in the upper room, watching and praying until the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.  She was a remarkable woman, indeed.

 

The Incarnation shows us that we have been created to be God-dependent people, not self-sufficient.  Because of the example of St. Mary the Virgin – in fact, because of the Incarnation itself, we can celebrate our human inadequacies and turn to God for his power.  Mary’s song – and Mary’s life show us the Christian ideal.  In my opinion, worshipping her as a God is not appropriate.  But, ignoring her is not an option either.  I’m grateful to have the opportunity to honor her today.

 

Let us see the wonder of life as gift, God’s life in us, with us and for us.  Let us hold on to the Magnificat as the revelation of God’s unconditional and unending love for each one of us.  Not because we ‘deserve’ it in some way, but because God is a God of love.  Let us remember the Christian ideal for the world – we’re not to acquire more stuff, ignoring the fact that too many families are homeless, too many children die of starvation and treatable disease, or that too many people are victims of violence.  How can we celebrate in such a world?  The answer is that the joyful feast of the Incarnation exists both because of, and in spite of, the human condition.  There were lots of reasons why God needed to save the world, and why he used ordinary people like St. Mary.  She’s a saint because she said YES to God’s call.  She’s a saint because she allowed God’s plan to be brought to reality in and through her.  We stand up and sing, for God has not given up on us.  We are his own, and we, too, are to say YES when he calls.