What on earth!!! Receiving any sad or happy news can be a shock. In my work as a midwife, it has been my privilege and pain to meet folks who have had events happen in their lives over which they had no control.
Just last week a lady was given news she was having not one, but two babies; now, that requires a bit of adjustment!
Two lots of our friends had twins… and one dreamt we would have twins!
The story we are looking at this week is Luke Ch1 V26: The Annunciation. Mary, Elizabeth her cousin and the Jewish community, were living under Herod’s brutal rule, and under Roman authority longing for the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. Can you imagine the cultural tensions and unrest within that society? Mary would have been familiar with the scriptures and prophecies. She would dream of having a Rescuer and promised Redeemer.
Then Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she was to give birth to the Messiah. She was about to be pregnant! Expecting! Now that is a shock announcement.
The Message translation says
‘she was thoroughly shaken” Luke 1:29.
The awesome appearance of the angel would alone be an affirmation to her that it was truly miraculous, a sign that helped her stay steady as a mother for the long term.
However, the delivery package was different, from her wildest dreams.
What …on earth!
Her pregnancy required some adjustments:
Firstly, Mary had to ‘reposition’ herself physically and mentally to carry Jesus. This has been described as Mary’s “pregnant pause”, that moment of potential apprehension and contemplation she experienced before saying yes to God. I wonder what would have happened if she said no to God!?
This pause becomes Mary’s ‘Yes to God’ moment.
Now she is “expecting” a child, an old fashioned term we seldom use. Yet it sums up so well the emotional and physical changes within her as she begins to hope and wait for the baby.
Secondly, let’s not fail to mention poor Joseph. Matthew, tells us he resolved to protect Mary from shame and disgrace and even considered ending the relationship. Their situation was so controversial, and open to misinterpretation and distortion. Just imagine telling your friends you are going to give birth to the Messiah! (… and, you are betrothed and celibate!).
It took a prophetic dream encounter for Joseph to mentally adjust.
I wonder if we can relate to this?
How are we repositioning ourselves mentally and psychologically to receive God this Christmas?
Is there something God wants to birth in you and me?
Mary was willing to be misunderstood by her community, are you?
Mary never guessed for a minute that she would be at the heart of her own longings and prayers. We pray for revival and change and a move of God not expecting that God would also put us at the heart of anything he does. So, God doesn’t come in ways we expect. And, we have our ‘what on earth!” moments
Advent is the pregnant season, a time of “expecting” of Watching and Waiting. I’ve been listening to Fleming Routledge (the brilliant female theologian!) and her short reflection on Advent. Have a listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk_XjlGXfMU
She talks about Advent ‘Being Poised between the Fall and Redemption’ calling it the once and future coming of Christ. I love that! The now and not yet of the kingdom. The Breakthroughs we see and encounter in our daily lives foretaste Gods coming kingdom. We are to live as ‘expectant people’ looking for Breakthroughs of God’s power at work.
What are your breakthroughs?
Tom Wright- (Luke for Everyone) sums up very precisely what’s happening :
‘Mary is (to that extent) the supreme example of what always happens when God is at work through human beings. Gods power from outside, and the indwelling spirit within, together result in things being done, which would have been unthinkable any other way’.
So, what are we expecting?
What are you expectant for this Advent?
If you tell me, ‘nothing,’ it’s maybe time to reposition yourself/ourselves.
To take a pregnant pause and consider the breakthrough of all breakthroughs God becoming human.
What… JESUS… on Earth!
‘Thanks be to God for his Indescribable Gift’
Love and Blessing!
Anne Macaulay