Though
they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, I would contend
that poetry can often get into places in our hearts and souls where
other words cannot reach…That poets and prophets alike have the
gift of standing at a distance and seeing things in a new way – and
as I pondered this morning’s readings I realised that beloved
George Herbert had done it again. In common with most writers of his
day, he loved a bit of word-play and among all the treasures of his
“Temple” collection is a two-line anagrammatic poem which sums up
pretty much all that today’s readings represent. He is playing with
the name of Mary – an anagram of army as he writes -
HOw
well her name an Army
doth present,
In
whom the Lord
of hosts
did pitch his tent!
And
there we have it.
After
so many dreams and longings to secure God’s presence by building
God a house…after David’s aspirations and Solomon’s
international construction project (which always puts me in mind of
the way that treasures were gathered from all over the world as this
Cathedral rose from the rubble)….after Israel’s years of exile
and return…after the Roman occupation…after all this our God on
the move finally settles, for a while at least.
The
one who walked with Adam in the cool of the evening, who spoke to
Moses through the Burning Bush and talked to him face to face as a
man speaks to his friend, the God whose still small voice was heard
by Elijah…the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob comes among God’s
people once again and pitches his tent …
As
one translation of that well-loved phrase in John’s prologue runs,
the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us…moved into the
neighbourhood…dwelt among us
Heaven
taking root on earth –
“For
in that rose contained was heaven and earth in little space”
In
Mary.
A
teenager in a small town in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire.
One
among many, you’d imagine. Nothing to mark her out in the crowd.
What was so special about her?
I
suspect that for David, right the way through, there was a hope that
to build a Temple might be his great legacy project. You see, though
he knew God well, David was so often the centre of his own
universe...so much of his life was All About Him. Hard for him to let
go of the idea that it would be DAVID’S Temple that would stand for
centuries...though there is the promise for him, too
“I
will make for you a great name...Your throne shall be established
forever”.
That’s
not bad, really, for a shepherd boy turned king, with some very
dubious moments along the way. David matters. His story counts...the
David chapter remains important in the grand sweep of God’s story
of love for God’s people.
But
with Mary, things are quite different.
She
may seem to be just an ordinary girl and yet – and yet, even before
God bursts into her life turning everything upside down, she’s
already described as “favoured one” – “full of grace” in
some translations…
David
was a man after God’s own heart, but here is someone so open to God
that grace already fills her heart and soul.
God
knows he will feel at home with Mary…IN her…
God
comes close to her “The Lord is with you” – and because God
comes close to Mary, Mary comes close to God…so close that,
incredibly, she becomes the God-bearer herself.
Here
is God’s stopping place – the site where God is pitching his tent
for now. Forget the splendours of the Temple, - all that God is, the
whole fullness of divinity, will be contained within her womb.
As
the carol puts it “res Miranda” – a wonderful thing
indeed...Mary, blessed among women indeed –though it is a costly
blessing…
Small
wonder that the angelic messenger opens the next part of the
conversation with that familiar angelic greeting
“Do
not be afraid…”.
If
ever those words were appropriate, this is the time. And though what
he says is terrifying enough, what actually happens is far more so.
Though Mary responds with obedience, it doesn’t honestly feel as if
she has much choice
“The
power of the Most High will overshadow you…” – and at that
point, really, resistance is futile…
From
then on Mary’s life is transformed forever – and so is the life
of the world.
Yes,
David gets his mention. We know that it matters that Joseph is “of
his house”, - that, very soon now, Mary’s child will be born in
Bethlehem, Royal David’s city…
“He
will be great...and the Lord will give him the throne of his ancestor
David. He reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom
there shall be no end”
The
parallels are unmistakable. Luke’s hearers are meant to recognise
that here an ancient promise is being fulfilled. Mary may not know
where the road ahead is leading but here and now God has come home,
pitching his tent …
While
George Herbert enjoys the word play that turns Mary to Army, the God
whom she sings of in her Magnificat turns things the other way up.
David’s calling was to be mighty in battle, to defeat the enemies
of God’s people and assert the power of his name over all earthly
rulers…
Mary’s
calling, higher by far, was and is to provide hospitality for the One
whose power is made perfect in weakness, who puts down the mighty
from their seat, and exalts the humble and meek.
As
Gabriel speaks to her, this new world order is already coming in to
being.
And
– we are part of it.
The
promise of mercy...made to Abraham and his children is made to us
too…
but
we have to make room, as Mary did.
We
HAVE to offer God hospitality, knowing that to do so as fully,
whole-heartedly, as she did will probably turn our worlds upside down
too.
Tonight,
many of us will find ourself singing the familiar words
“Be
born in us today”.
While
Mary was God-bearer when Christ came into the world, we are all
called to be God-bearers here and now. The world needs God so much –
and with God, nothing is impossible.
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