Bible Text: Luke 1: 39-55 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
Legendary Irish Rock band, U2, released a song in 2000 entitled “Grace”. Lead singer, Bono, said that the song was about a couple of his favourite people rolled into the lyrics and it is those people who personify his favourite word, grace. He said, “It’s not a song about people being graceful in their actions but covering over the cracks…Grace is the idea I get most excited about.” The first verse says, “Grace, she takes the blame/ She covers the shame/ Removes the stain/ It could be her name/ Grace, it’s the name for a girl/ It’s also a thought that could change the world/ And when she walks on the street/ You can hear the strings/ Grace finds goodness in everything” and another line is “Grace finds beauty in everything.” Grace is one of those words that has many different and many misused meanings. But Bono seems to understand a thing or two about grace. Grace finds goodness and beauty in all places, in all circumstances, in all people.
In many ways Mary’s song is a song of grace. And talk about a place, situation and person in need of grace. An unwed, teenaged, woman, walking to a distant relative’s home on her own. Luke states that Mary set out to visit Elizabeth but he does not tell us why she wanted to visit Elizabeth or how she made the journey by herself. It would have been very unusual for a pregnant woman to undertake such a journey. It says something about Mary’s strength of character. In her culture an unwed pregnancy would have had very serious consequences. If ever there was a situation in need of grace it is this one. Thankfully, Elizabeth is the friend and confidant that Mary needs and it is Elizabeth’s words of encouragement that allow Mary to praise God for God’s grace. One might not expect that an unplanned, teen pregnancy is the best way for God to exemplify grace but as we learned last week it is about the unexpected. When Elizabeth and Mary meet, the babe in Elizabeth’s belly responds with joy. Throughout the Bible any activity in the womb before a birth was thought to be an omen from God that offered a clue to the destiny of that child or more to the point, the purpose that God had in store for the child. Of course, this certainly makes sense in that John will serve, will express joy, will be the kick that everyone needs to welcome Jesus.
Following the response from John, Elizabeth in turn gives an inspired speech as she interprets Mary’s pregnancy. Elizabeth says, “You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed!” Blessed, was likely not what Mary’s parents thought and we know will not be the words that Joseph will first use. But Elizabeth calls her blessed. In this way she erases any doubts that Mary might have about what would normally be described as a shameful pregnancy. The words of blessing give Mary the courage and joy she needs to sing out her song of praise. Grace is at work in this story. There is no judgment, no shame, there is no regret. This text tells us a profound truth about the grace of God. I often wonder if we the church should be more like Elizabeth- inviting people and situations that would otherwise be viewed as a disgrace to come and sing their songs of praise. Our words should not be words of judgment but words of blessedness. So that those who have been voiceless can sing. Our words should empower others to find grace, rather than disfavour. What we say and do and how we react to the needs of people around us affect their ability to sing.
Musically Mary’s song is written in two movements and while the movements are definitely distinct they also cooperate with one another. The first movement acts as a preview of the coming attractions that will be revealed in full in the second movement. The first portion is written in first person while the second is written in third person. The song itself mirrors the individual’s feeling of grace which then gives way to life in community.
Mary begins by stating that God “has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.” It should be noted that lowliness does not mean humility or modesty but rather someone who has been humiliated or marginalized. It is into these circumstances that grace removes the stain, relieves the pain and finds goodness and beauty. God refuses to let Mary’s low social status to become an obstacle to the exalted role she will play. Mary begins by singing about her own experience, her own personal story of grace. It is also a reversal that mirrors many stories throughout the Old Testament, throughout God’s grace in history. But Mary then turns from her own experience to speaking more generally of God’s actions throughout history for the community.
God’s grace is always about a reversal of roles and in Mary’s song God is determined to overthrow the order of empire and establish a reign of mercy and justice. The powerful will become powerless, there will be a redistribution of goods, filling the hungry with good things and turning the rich away empty-handed. The reversal of all these things is a great act of mercy for the vast majority of the population living under Roman oppression. Grace means salvation and there are saving words in Mary’s story for her people. One commentary stated, “This text is a radical recognition of the power of God to reverse the fortunes of this world. Humans do not have final authority over their lives. God does. And as the text sings of God’s ways, it informs us both of who God is and who in Jesus Christ God calls us to be. The experience of grace, which has the capacity to recognize God’s work and the ability to utter God’s praise, must inform a life that embodies God’s values.”
Mary sings and implies that rulers who occupy their earthly thrones, from Caesar to Herod, use their power to oppress others and secure their reign at the expense of peasants like Mary. I began to wonder, where do we stand on this plane of powerful and powerless? As most of us enjoy the comforts of the holiday season, as most of us will eat too much, laugh a lot, enjoy good company, what is our role in this story? Clearly we do not occupy thrones, or rule to intentionally oppress others but we do have far more power than many in the world. But this reversal of roles is no just for the sake of reversal. It is a fulfillment of the covenant that God entered into with the people of Israel at Sinai. As Mary states, it is a completion of the covenant that God entered into with Abraham. In both the exodus and Abraham story this covenant that God calls Israel to follow is to be a society built on mercy and compassion, on grace. This is a reciprocal relationship, “God’s own thorough, gracious involvement with human life and creation is itself the source of creations capacity to recognize and praise the divine.” It is not about inequities that lead to iniquities in the mistreatment of the poor. Mary’s song celebrates that this new way of living has been fulfilled through her son.
Grace has to do with love and joy as found in this story. For what we hear is that God is concerned with those whose needs are so profound that they can do nothing other than depend upon the Lord. There is nothing we can do to receive God’s grace- but rely, depend on God. Grace also means mercy. Grace is the essence of God’s faithfulness. Grace is God at work throughout the history of humankind. Grace is God at work through Jesus Christ. Amen