This week, we think about the fourth candle on our Advent Wreath: We light this candle to remind us of Mother Mary, who told God she would obey.
I asked Reverend Kerry Tucker, who is part of the ministry team, about her thoughts relating to Advent. She said:“
The festival of Christmas, with all its shopping, wrapping and planning, is drawing to its climax. It has been said that a third of humanity gathers to celebrate the birth pains of a refugee in Bethlehem each Christmas Eve.
And while doing so, many will take the opportunity to attend a service in the church where they will listen again to the familiar readings of a baby being born in humble surroundings in a country under occupation to a young mother of unimpressive family background. And hear again of Mary and Joseph’s struggle to find hospitality in an overcrowded Bethlehem; of a sympathetic innkeeper and of the faithful pilgrimage of shepherds and educated wise men from the east; of strange gifts, angels; indeed, a heavenly host of them and of the presence of cattle and sheep, donkeys, and noise. A baby to be called Emmanuel – meaning God is with us.
The Christmas story begins with the archangel Gabriel’s appearance to a young woman called Mary, greeting her with the words "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). This happened when the angel Gabriel visits Mary in Nazareth to tell her that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus.
All throughout the Bible, great favour from God comes with great responsibility. Being assured of God’s favour feels a little like the two-edged wish of the Chinese proverb, “May you live in interesting times.” Being favoured by God can often mean that your life is about to be turned on its head.
God did favour Mary as she consented and put herself at God’s service, and she in turn was promised that God would be with her through it all…. Making the undoable doable.
Scholars suggest that for God to become incarnate (to be made flesh), it was necessary for a positive human response to be made to what was understood to be a divine initiative. This is academic language to say that in her action we are forced to take seriously the idea of God’s activity in creation being dependent upon our own creaturely responses.
As we consider that, I wonder what you are being asked to say “yes” to and how God might equip you to journey into the unknown as you do.
Therefore, ponder these words as we await Christ’s incarnation into the world.
Every blessing
Father Paul
You can find our services for Advent and Christmas at:
St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bletchingley – Click here