Mary did you know?

You can find daily Advent reflections “Travelling Light” here.

Luke 1:46-48

Mary’s Song of Praise

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

When Mary pushed her son

from her womb

into the waiting arms of the world

in all its darkness

and neediness

was her heart heavy

and her throat tight

and her eyes full of unshed tears?

As she put him to her breast

and bore the pain and wonder

of nurturing new life

while others came and went

to marvel at the birth,

did her fear for this child

constrict her heart and her lungs?

And as her fear was confirmed 

by wise men and women

prophesying that this boy child

would pierce her soul

did she smile sweetly

and let others revel in the joy of his birth

while her heart was breaking into pieces?

Did she know that she would travel

from the pain of bearing a child

through the agony of labour- 

(make no mistake

God did not have that covered!)

Did she endure those pains

knowing she must confront 

the trauma of a son

who left home early

to be about the business of God, 

a son who did not return weekly

with his laundry

or looking for a good feed

but who took to the road

and kept on going,

because Gods business was

a business that involved

itinerant living

hanging out with those labelled losers

and upsetting the institutions of the day

and, ultimately,

involved dying on a cross.

Mary, the mother of God

endured so much more 

than the pain that is simply a part

of mothering a son

that pain of birthing and letting go

that mothers have always borne.

And she knew.

From the moment she said yes to God

Mary knew.

Still she said Yes.