Learning about status through Mary

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary on Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord can initiate contemplation of the connection between the status we experience in our ordinary lives and the place of dignity we share with all humanity as siblings of Jesus.

From ‘The Annunciation’ by Helen Elwes. Photo: Campion Hall

The connection of our lives to the will of God is in the forefront of the declaration in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah that God is with us.

* [7:14] Isaiah’s sign seeks to reassure Ahaz that he need not fear the invading armies of Syria and Israel in the light of God’s promise to David (2 Sm 7:12–16). The oracle follows a traditional announcement formula by which the birth and sometimes naming of a child is promised to particular individuals (Gn 16:11; Jgs 13:3). The young woman: Hebrew ‘almah designates a young woman of marriageable age without specific reference to virginity. The Septuagint translated the Hebrew term as parthenos, which normally does mean virgin, and this translation underlies Mt 1:23. Emmanuel: the name means “with us is God.” Since for the Christian the incarnation is the ultimate expression of God’s willingness to “be with us,” it is understandable that this text was interpreted to refer to the birth of Christ.

In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author declares the status of Jesus as high priest who replaces the sin offerings of the Hebrew Tradition.

* [10:1–10] Christian faith now realizes that the Old Testament sacrifices did not effect the spiritual benefits to come but only prefigured them (Heb 10:1). For if the sacrifices had actually effected the forgiveness of sin, there would have been no reason for their constant repetition (Heb 10:2). They were rather a continual reminder of the people’s sins (Heb 10:3). It is not reasonable to suppose that human sins could be removed by the blood of animal sacrifices (Heb 10:4). Christ, therefore, is here shown to understand his mission in terms of Ps 40:5–7, cited according to the Septuagint (Heb 10:5–7). Jesus acknowledged that the Old Testament sacrifices did not remit the sins of the people and so, perceiving the will of God, offered his own body for this purpose (Heb 10:8–10).

The Gospel of Luke describes the decision of Mary to surrender to the will of God and be the Mother wherein the Word becomes flesh.

* [1:36–37] The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God.

Edward Morse shares growing closer to Mary, attracted by her gentle yet powerful commitment to our Lord, which begins at the annunciation and continues throughout Jesus’ life, which begins at the annunciation and continues throughout Jesus’ life, even to his death on the cross.

Instead of focusing on her rights, her interests, or her own discomfort, Mary offered herself wholly to the Lord.  The concept of a handmaid was familiar to her, as servant/slave status was a common feature of life in this era. Yet she embraced that status, placing herself in a position to receive whatever the Lord would send her way, instead of preferring her own way instead.

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D. on being born of God.

"Just imagine the incredible kindness and mercy! He was the only Son, but He did not want to remain alone. So that humans might be born of God God was born of humans. Begotten of God is He through Whom we were created - Born of a woman is He through Whom we are to be re-created. The Word first wished to be born of humans, so that you might be assured of being born of God" (excerpt from Sermon on John 2, 13)

Gerard J. Hughes SJ comments on a John Henry Newman sermon that urges thinking about Mary as she appears from the texts to help us to understand our own call to faith.

thinking about Mary as she appears from the texts can help us to understand our own call to faith. I would like to try to develop these three themes. What, then, in our lives corresponds to the natural love of a mother for her child which illuminated the meaning of it all for Mary? Surely the answer to that has to be the practice of prayer. Prayer after all is love seeking understanding. Prayer in love seeks a grasp of God which is deeper than all our everyday words, beyond our best theological formulae.

Friar Jude Winkler examines the subtle patterns in Scripture that develop our understanding of the Annunciation and the freedom of Mary to surrender to the will of God. Mary begins her mission immersed in signs, promises, and faith that will develop as she meets the challenges of Mother of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, connects that in Paul’s estimation, the old world was forever gone and a new world of universal human dignity emerges, grounded in our objective and universal Christ identity.

Perhaps the present #MeToo movement is encouraging a similar revolution. Today we are witnessing a fear-based reaction in the United States from people who need their white (often male) privilege and superiority, who do not want to be told that people who are poor, any who cannot afford health insurance, refugees and immigrants, people of color, and individuals with bodily or developmental limitations have equal dignity. Power systems like to preserve a hierarchy in which some people are higher and some are lower. The Gospel has no use for it.

Faith and prayer are connected so that we grow in one through the practice of the other and status as disciples of Jesus moves toward the example of Mary. 
References


(n.d.). CHAPTER 7 The Syro-Ephraimite War Crisis in Judah. 1In the days of .... Retrieved April 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/isaiah7.

(n.d.). Hebrews, chapter 10 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/10

n.d.). Luke 1. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/luke1.htm

(n.d.). Creighton's Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, March 24). Between doctrine and discipleship: reflections on the Annunciation .... Retrieved April 9, 2018, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/between-doctrine-and-discipleship-reflections-annunciation

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/