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Sweet MaryTuesday, December 8, 2009
Luke 1:38 Since the prophet Malachi spoke 400 years before, God's voice had been silent. The Hebrew religion fed on itself instead of God's words and became closed-minded and corrupt. But Mary was young and God came to her and spoke. The garden God created for us, where we could be fruitful and multiply, was closed long ago. Angels guarded its gates. We were no longer welcome. But God remembered the joy of walking with his kids, playing with them, talking. The garden of Eden. Earth's longing. God wanted to open up the doors again. Mary heard the strength of God's desire, and she said yes to what He called her to do. She would be mother of Jesus, and Jesus would one day announce the coming of the kingdom of Heaven. "What is all this juice and all this joy? A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning in Eden garden" (Gerard Manley Hopkins, "Spring"). How to even barely grasp the joy God felt the day of Mary's visitation? "The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush with richness." This is the purity of God visiting dark earth. Mary, touched by an angel, whitens with fear and joy. Her heart open to God, she is about to become pregnant. And God rejoices that his children are coming home. Oh, how happy you have made me, Lord. And you are happier still! You do marvelous things, and bring me into holiness. Your strength and handiwork are my salvation. What joy rushes out to the ends of the earth. What joy! (Psalm 98) |
In the spring of the year God visited a small town in Israel where Mary lived. He knew her and loved her very much. She was precious to her Creator. She was precious to her Father.