Pondering:  In the days after the birth, Mary surely ponders

            This advent I have posted reflections centering around the idea of Mary as an older woman looking back at her life and the remarkable ways God worked through her. 

            On Christmas Eve at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ at Woodstock I suggested that Mary was asking each of us to do our own remembering.

                        How has God touched your life?

                        When were the times you were willing to say “yes” to God?

                        Who have been the unexpected messengers of God in your

                                    life?

                       

            I also shared a second poem I wrote this Holy Season.  I share it now with you.

Mary Ponders

Life moves more slowly now

            More yesterdays

            Than tomorrows

Memories fill hours and days

            Fragments of time past

            Glimpses of times lost

Sunshine and laughter

            Children playing, bodies growing, dreams consuming

Interrupted

Reinterpreted

Gabriel’s

            life-changing

                        childhood-ending

                                    blessing-giving

Visit

For unto you a son is given

Given

            Not sought after

            Not planned for

            Not anticipated

Given

            yet a child, now a woman

Given

            Elizabeth’s wise counsel

            Joseph’s patient concern

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on

the lowliness of his servant.

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

for the Mighty One has done

great things for me,

and holy is his name.

Why the dislocation?  Why the registration?

Rome’s authority reaching to the lowliest in the Empire.

            Unrelenting

            Unforgiving

            Unnecessary

Taking

            Our crops to feed their Empire

Taking

            Our coins to fill their purses

Taking

            Our hope to glorify the Caesar

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

He has scattered the proud in the

thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his

descendants forever.

Travel becoming more difficult now

            More people

            Less room

Memories of an animal-scented cave surround me like a cocoon protecting the life within me waiting, waiting, waiting

            God’s emerging

            Light revealing

            Hope unveiling

            Promise keeping

            Life transforming

Birthing

Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Memories fill the hours, the days

            Fragments of times past

            Glimpses of Holy Grace

Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Clara Young, Christmas Eve 2016