Monday (Evening) Musing: Mary

This is not a morning musing because we are the happy grandparents of a girl who is spending a few days with us while her parents prepare for Christmas and the arrival soon after (late January) of a baby boy. Said grandgirl has a head cold so sleep is fitful and she's extra cuddly, which we'll take any day of the week.

On Sunday the Lectionary readings give us the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth and the Magnificat. This story is one of my favorites and yet, I fear that in my first year with this congregation (last year) my sermon for this Fourth Sunday in Advent used up everything I love about it. Mary's boldness. The beauty of the relationship with Elizabeth. The notion that mute Zachariah waited on them while they visited and shared news and eventually sang a revolutionary lullaby.

I've been perusing the poets for inspiration - always a good place to start. The poem below is saying something that may or may not find its way into Sunday's sermon, but it's lovely on its own. The author is unknown.

Many blessings to you as we round the Advent corner with the story of Mary and Elizabeth filling us. I'll be taking a bit of a break from writing here until after Christmas because the life of a pastor gets particularly full in this season. Plus there are the wondrous joys of being momma and Jewels and Oma. So, I wish you the fullness of the Incarnation. Jesus doesn't come into perfection - he comes into a messy world in an unexpected way. But he came so that the world might be filled with light in the darkness and that we might be filled with love.

In those days when the

people of Judea were oppressed

in the reign of King Herod,

in the town of Nazareth

there was a woman named Miryam.

In prayer Miryam watched.

Eyes of her soul turned inward,

she watched.

Ears of her spirit stretched out,

she watched.

Watched for Yahweh in stillness.

In awe Miryam listened.

With the firm beat of her heart,

she listened.

With the deep stroke of her breath,

she listened.

Listened for Yahweh in stillness.

In the stillness Miryam reached out.

Mind alive, she reached out.

Memory reflecting, she reached out.

Inviting her God to inspire.

The Shadow streamed into her being.

Greeting the core of her soul.

Hearing, she stretched for the life source.

Embracing the quickening call.

'How is this? I know not!" she responded.

Stumbling in God's desert of time.

"But you speak and all things come together.

I will as you say let it be."

Her lifetime of shadowy knowing

was confirmed in the quieting joy,

Summoning cadences. ancient and deep.

echoed the call of God's peace.

Miryam arose and went out.

Holding the knowledge of change,

went out.

Accepting the newness of challenge,

went out.

Went out to begin the task.

Miryam embarked on the journey.

Her mind precise for the journey

.Her soul enflamed for the journey.

Journeyed to the arms of Elizabeth.

In the warmth of those arms,

she knew.

Ancient pathways opening before her,

she knew.

Words of her people streamed from her mouth,

she knew.

Knew that her God lived within her.