Mary Speaks

Mary and Jesus and my reflection

One of the choirs at Aidan’s high school sang a song called Mary Speaks. It was originally a poem written by Madeleine L’Engle. The music was written by Daniel E. Gawthorp.

I’ve been thinking about the words I heard that night, sung by teenaged girls in blue gowns for school credit.

O you who bear the pain of the whole earth,
I bore you.
You, who, when your hem is touched, give power,
I nourished you.
Who turns the day to night in this dark hour,
Light comes from you.
O you who hold the world in your embrace,
I carried you.
Whose arm encircled the world with your grace,
I once held you.
O you who laughed and ate and walked the shore,
I played with you.
And I, who with all others, you died for,
Now I hold you.
May I be faithful to this final test:
In this last time I hold my child, my son,
His body close enfolded to my breast,
The holder held: the bearer borne.
Mourning to joy: darkness to morn.
Open, my arms: your work is done.

– Madeleine L’Engle

When she agreed to be the mother of Jesus, she agreed to all of the daily demands of caring for a child. He wasn’t born potty trained or able to slice bread, yet as she did those things for her son, she was serving all of us who were to come. Jesus didn’t need Mary to be a tender mother. Angels could have cared for him. He could have manifested himself as an adult, out of the blue.

But it wasn’t that way. For some reason, mother and child and everything that relationship brings to mind needed to happen. As a mother, I marvel at the thought of her nourishing and playing with Jesus knowing what was going to happen. Madeleine L’Engle put words into Mary’s mouth, and they are beautiful. But what did Mary say when she truly spoke?

46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 1:46-55

She also said:

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

I wonder what she did next.

Merry Christmas, friends.