Women with a Story to Tell: Mary

Thanks to Luke, we have more insight into Mary’s thoughts, wishes, and suffering than we do for most other women in the Bible. Luke says that he “investigated everything carefully from the very first.” My own guess is that, among his informants, that is, among the “eyewitnesses and servants of the word” that he consulted, was Mary. Mary was young when Jesus was born, perhaps just 15, and we know that she lived into the AD 30s because she was at the cross. She could have lived into the AD 60s or 70s and thus could have spoken with Luke.

  Mary was certainly a determined and robust young woman. She made a three-day journey to see Elizabeth after her visit from the angel Gabriel. Then she returned to Nazareth when she was at least three months pregnant. Next, when she was eight months pregnant, she made the three-day journey to Bethlehem. There she gave birth in crowded conditions and had to make do with what was at hand. She was resourceful.  

 Mary was certainly a godly woman. She did not run away screaming at the appearance of Gabriel the archangel. Instead, in the proper spirit, she showed reverence and was attentive to his message. When she heard the message that God had specifically for her, she did not say, “Maybe later, when I get my life organized.” Instead, she said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  

 Mary was an inquisitive and thoughtful woman. From the beginning she was “perplexed,” but not afraid. She heard the angel, she responded to the greeting that Elizabeth gave her, she listened to the experience of the shepherds and heard their songs of praise to God, and she was amazed at the prophecies of Simeon and Anna in the temple. The text says several times that Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Mary was building up memories, and there was more to come. 

 Finally, Mary was a student well-acquainted with Scripture. First, Mary knew what the archangel Gabriel was talking about. She had heard these stories in the Psalms and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Mary knew enough to understand the tradition of David, the promise of perpetual kingship, and the expectation of the coming Messiah. I suspect she knew more than most Christians today.  

 Second, she was able to quote the Psalms and Isaiah in composing her response to Elizabeth. Elizabeth said that the Holy Spirit moved her baby John in the womb, then she pronounced a blessing on Mary and her in-the-womb son. Mary responded with the song we know as the Magnificat where she quoted verbatim from Scripture and wove together a wonderful song of praise.   

 This is Christmas Eve, so let’s reflect on the character of this woman of God for a moment. Mary was a determined, robust, spiritual, inquisitive, and thoughtful woman.  

 She herself drew on Biblical theology to compose her magnificent song which relies heavily on Genesis, Psalms, and the Prophets. She anticipated what the Lord was doing and was determined to play out her role in God’s plan. Would we respond as well?  

 Mary did not understand everything, nor did she see the end because our story for today is only the beginning. But she savored the arrival of the Savior whom God sent. We also appreciate Mary’s obedience; she played her part well. She was one of many faithful women who gave us the lineage of Jesus, guarded the tradition, and gave support to God’s plan which leads us down to today. Many faithful women continued to serve in the kingdom of God. With Mary, we can say: 

 “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.”

Let’s change that to include us; make it “he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servants.”