Good morning…
A longtime friend texted our monthly book group, sharing with us a poem from her Advent readings — a compilation, Sacred Journeys, by Jan L. Richardson.
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“Annunciation”
This was the minute no one speaks of,
when she could still refuse.
A breath unbreathed,
Spirit,
suspended,
waiting.
_________________________
She did not cry, “I cannot, I am not worthy,”
nor, “I have not the strength.”
She did not submit with gritted teeth,
raging, coerced.
Bravest of all humans,
consent illumined her.
The room filled with its light,
the lily glowed in it,
and the iridescent wings.
Consent,
courage unparalleled,
opened her utterly.
– Taken from in Breathing the Water by Denise Levertov.
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When we somehow sense an invitation from God, how often do we simply refuse? “I cannot.” “I am not worthy.” “I have not the strength.” How frequently do we give our half-hearted “I guess so” to God? Gritted teeth. Raging. Coerced.
To be inspired by a different human response, in Luke 1:28-38 (ESV) we revisit the story of teenaged Mary being visited by an angel, Gabriel.
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Too old? Too young? Nothing is impossible with God. Barren? A virgin? Nothing is impossible with God. Horrible diagnosis? Unimaginable grief? Nothing is impossible with God. Excruciating pain? Unknown future? Nothing is impossible with God.
Oh, favored one, the Lord is with you. Do not be afraid.
Personally, what might it mean to courageously consent to being overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit this Advent season?
“I am your servant, God.
According to your word,
let it be to me.”
Like brave, young Mary, might we also be opened utterly?
…Sue…
