SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 1:39-55
REFLECTION
When have you experienced a deep sense of shame or rejection? When have you felt judged unfairly by others and wanted to hide or run away to find safety? Have you ever, while experiencing that sense of humiliation, encountered someone who expressed unconditional acceptance and understanding? When we feel like the world is against us, just one person who is safe and welcoming can make the difference between sanity and complete breakdown. And yet, in spite of the fact that we all share this longing, acceptance can be frustratingly difficult to find. Few of us have been taught how to celebrate difference. Not a day goes by without the news reporting stories of people who do not fit the white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant norm being mistreated simply because of who they are. Even among our friends and family, acceptance can be hard to come by. Our loved ones can subtly pressure us to conform to what they expect from us and many of us know the loneliness of feeling that we have to hide significant facets of ourselves in order to keep the peace and feel loved.
But what if things could be different? What if acceptance could be the norm, rather than the exception? And what if our acceptance was rooted, not just in a grudging ‘tolerance’ but in enthusiastic love for the other? That is the dream that the Gospel asks us to share.
When Mary became pregnant as a young, unmarried maiden, the consequences could have been life-threatening. As a betrothed woman, one accusation of adultery could have ended her life. And even if she had survived, she could have been doomed to a life on her own, without a man to protect her and care for her. In a world where women could not own property, enter into business contracts, or testify in court, to be unable to find a husband was a catastrophe. And so, as the Gospel story tells it, before anyone else knew about the child within her, Mary set off to see her cousin—the one person in her world who might possibly be able to understand what had happened to Mary. Elizabeth had also become pregnant in an unusual and miraculous way and so perhaps she wouldn’t dismiss Mary’s story completely.
In the wonderful mythology of Luke’s birth narrative, Mary’s arrival at the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah was greeted not just with acceptance but with celebration and love. Elizabeth honoured Mary and expressed a depth of respect that Mary had probably not experienced in her life before. And in Elizabeth’s wholehearted welcome, Mary sensed such a new depth of divine acceptance that she could not contain her relief and thankfulness.
Her famous Magnificat begins as an expression of amazement at how God has taken notice of this humble young woman and has accepted her. I have always thought that she was referring to God’s choosing of her to carry the Messianic Child. But it occurs to me that in Elizabeth’s greeting, Mary felt God’s acceptance and honouring of her in spite of her being in a situation that would be frowned upon by the religious elite, by her culture, and even by her family. But it doesn’t stop there. In seeing how God has loved and welcomed her, Mary realised that God’s acceptance extends to all those whom her society would reject and judge. Her praise flows from the realisation that all those who would have been condemned for being too young or too old, too inappropriate or too sinful, too poor or too unclean, are now celebrated as much—or perhaps even more—than the wealthy, powerful, and ‘civilised’. It’s a great turn around that reveals how much we miss when we fail to share acceptance with one another. And it also reveals that no matter how unwelcome we may feel, no matter how others may reject us, we belong. We are part of the Cosmos, we are connected with the Earth and everyone and everything in it. And we are enlivened by the same Divine Spirit that permeates all things.
So what are we to do with our status as divinely welcomed beings? And how are we to share the acceptance that we have come to experience as Mary did? It begins with living into the knowledge that we are welcomed, beloved, and accepted as we are. And it is to allow ourselves to release our need to be constantly on guard against rejection. It is to claim the truth that we are accepted and to allow it to fill us with confidence and courage. And it is to allow it to change us into an ever-more radiant reflection of the love, grace, and acceptance of God.
And then, as we immerse ourselves ever-more deeply in the acceptance of God, we can begin to open our hearts to others. We can begin to be more intentional about extending grace and welcome to those who know the pain of rejection. We can learn the skills of compassionate listening, of seeking to understand what feels so other, and of withholding judgement and assumptions. And as we do this, so little by little, we will discover both that our longing for acceptance is being fulfilled, but also that our ability to live as accepted ones helps to make our corner of the world a little more accepting and welcoming.
What a wonderful liberation it is when, like Mary, we come to know that we are beloved even when others tell us we’re not worthy of love. There is great power in knowing our worth and claiming our place in the world. But we don’t have to do this by rejecting, excluding, or dominating anyone else. We find our place as we make space for those around us and learn to love them as they are, not as we would have them be. And when we take our place beside the ones that are different, strange, non-conforming, and misunderstood, that’s when we know that, in God’s country, everyone truly is welcome.
I am reminded of the words of that old Apple ‘Think Different’ ad campaign. And of course these words don’t just apply to the crazy geniuses who change the world. They apply to us all. Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them,
but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
RESPONDING
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
You have shown us that we can be the crazy ones,
that there are no boxes to tick and criteria to meet with you.
There is great power in knowing our worth and claiming our place in the world.
We feel the freedom and healing that comes from being wholeheartedly accepted,
and we embrace our capacity to accept and love one another.
We thank you for setting us free
and showing us how to love as you have loved us.
There are so many people who feel rejected, unloved,
and ‘wrong’ because of their difference
May we show them that they are accepted and loved just as they are.
Some of us have learned to withhold our love in order to control or hurt others.
May our hearts grow soft and may we find ways to heal
so that we can let go of the hurt and the need to control.
For those who grieve lost loves, lost moments, lost memories
May we offer them a presence of peace and light.
As we seek to love and be loved more freely, unconditionally, and wholeheartedly,
May we be reminded of your love and acceptance
and may we learn to love as you love us.
Amen.
RESPONSE RITUAL
The Fourth Advent Candle is lit:
As we light this candle we express our longing for acceptance
And we cling to the love we find in Christ.
As the people gaze at the flames, they may be invited to close their eyes and think about what
makes them different from others and how they feel about their difference. Encourage them to
reflect on any ways they may be tempted to hide their difference and any ways they may be
negative toward the differences of others. Finally they may want to think about one thing they can
do to express their uniqueness and to show acceptance to others in the next while.
INTEGRATING
BENEDICTION
Word of blessing:
May our hearts and lives be opened more and more to the love of Christ so that we may be more
accepting of one another’s uniqueness and difference.
Greeting one another:
May God’s love and acceptance be with us and be shared among us always. Amen
SENDING RITUAL
The people are invited to pause before they leave and think of what they can do this week to express acceptance and love more intentionally toward themselves and others. After a few moments of silence, the people are sent out with the following encouragement: Go in the love of Christ and share acceptance wherever and with whomever you can.
Used with permission from (An Advent and Christmas Guide for Community Worship from sacredise.com) Written by John van de Laar with Jenine Pretorius
Recent Comments