Luke 1:46-55
We Protestants don’t talk a lot about
Mary. I mean, when was the last time you heard a sermon about Mary or did a
Bible study on Mary? Thank goodness we have Christmas, or we might never get
around to talking about or thinking about Mary.
When I lived in Mexico, I developed a great
appreciation for Mary. This appreciation—believe it or not—grew out of riding
the ‘Ruta 70’ (Route 70 city bus) from near our apartment to the seminary
downtown and back every day.
You may not have noticed, but I really
look a lot like a “gringo” (Caucasian, 6’3”, blue eyes, etc.). So, I was a
curiosity on the city bus. Some folks were warry of me—avoided eye contact,
stayed away. Some were English language learners and wanted to try out their
English. And, some were just curious about this fellow who seemed somewhat out of place on the city bus.
Everyone I talked with got around to
asking me what I was doing in Monterrey, Mexico. I would respond that I was a
teacher. And, they’d ask, “What do you teach?” I would respond that I taught
Biblical Studies at the Methodist seminary. “Oh…so you’re an evangelico
(Protestant)?” “Yes,” I would respond. And then they would ask THE question, the litmus test of every
good Mexican Catholic.
¿Qué opinas de Maria? What do you think about Mary?
In the
beginning, I responded as any good, southern Methodist: “Oh, we don’t worship Mary. We worship God as we follow Jesus.”
This response may have been theologically “spot
on,” but it was conversation suicide. They would smile. And, the conversation
would be over.
I needed to figure this out. Conversations
were ending abruptly, and that meant that relationships didn’t have a chance. Only through relationship do we begin to shape each other's lives. So, I began to think about Mary, and I began to search the Gospels to see what
I could learn about Mary. Mary doesn’t say much in the Gospels, and the Gospels
themselves don’t say much about Mary. But, I came upon this passage in Luke
that changed everything for me—Luke 1:46-55:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done
great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost
thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
After reading and re-reading this passage,
after praying, after thinking, after doing this through a long weekend, I was
ready. I was ready for someone to toss me that question again.
I didn’t have to wait long. It was a
Tuesday on the way home in the afternoon. A middle-aged couple were in the seat
behind mine. I was turned sideways in my seat watching the city go by. I
eventually made eye-contact with the man, he smiled, and we started to chat.
The question came around to why I was in Monterrey, and then—right on cue—he asked
the question: ¿Qué opinas de Maria? I was ready.
“I love Mary! Have you read the song
she sings in Luke 1? Have heard those words? She sings about the goodness and
greatness of God. She sings about the importance of humility. She sings about
the justice God will bring—about how the great and powerful will be brought low
and the lowly and powerless will be lifted up. If we could have the same spirit
as Mary, if we could embrace her attitude, what a different world we would
have. Yes, I love Mary.”
After helping them lift their jaws off
the floor (they had never had an evangelico respond in this manner!),
the conversation continued…and we talked together all they way to my bus stop.
My answer, theologically ‘spot on’ and
conversation enlivening!
I took this discovery back to my
seminary students, told them the story, talked things through with them to
tweak and shape the response to make sure it was culturally receivable and theologically
correct. Within two weeks, they were coming back with amazing and exciting
stories of engaging conversations and even some decisions of faith.
Mary doesn’t speak much. Little is
actually said about her. But, she is important to our faith. She is more than a
pronoun in a Christmas song. She truly is an example of faithfulness. So,
today, as we draw near to Christmas morning, I say to you what I said to so
many on Ruta 70…
I love Mary. Her song in the Gospel of
Luke shows us how we are to respond to God—in humility, in praise of God’s power
and justice. If we would embrace that same spirit, that same attitude that we find
in Mary, what a different world this would be, how different our own lives
would be….
Amen.
Sunday, December 22, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem—Mary”
Watch/Listen: HERE
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