Advent 4: Mary

This is the fourth and last Sunday in Advent, and this week we meet Mary, who is going to be the mother of the holy one, the one who will reign forever.

It’s not unusual for Christian women to identify with Mary.  When I was pregnant, I felt the holy waiting, the expectation, the miracle. When my children were small, the phrase “and a little child will lead them” looped in my brain for years.  But through most stages of my life I have identified with Mary as skeptic.

We often hear how Mary accepted her fate—in fact, praised God and thanked God for being chosen.  She did.  But before she did, she was a tiny bit skeptical: “How will this be?” She asked the angel.

Yes, how will this be? Mary had an added practical concern most mothers don’t need to think about, but with anyone starting on any new adventure there are many practical matters that need to be addressed. And I am a person who thinks about all those mundane matters—and often the one who addresses them.  At home, in past years, I was always the one to make sure the kids had clean clothes and that daycare or babysitting was lined up as needed and that schedules were (mostly) kept. I am the one who ensures there is (most nights) a nutritious dinner on the table. I remember birthdays and anniversaries. Though Brian takes care of lots of important maintenance, I feel the weight of making sure the daily stuff gets done. At work, I am in awe of the product managers who can envision new features without worrying about what coding or procedures need to be developed to make them happen, because that’s all I can think about any time there is a change: How, exactly, are we going to make this work?

To me this story of the angel speaking to Mary is a story that tells me my skepticism and caution are acceptable. There is room here even for the person with practical concerns. But there’s also a miracle about to happen, so keep your eyes and heart and mind open to it.