39 Mary got up and hurried to a city
in the Judean highlands.[1] Eugene Peterson paraphrases it in his The Message, 39 Mary didn't waste a minute.[2]
I
made the drill team, I got a part in the school musical, I aced my Chemistry
exam, I’ve been accepted to graduate school, I got the job —all good news—significant
news that we want to share. We’re getting married, we’re having a baby, they
accepted our offer on the house, we’re going to be grandparents—more good news,
perhaps life-changing news that we want to share . . . Have you
ever had news—life-changing, significant news—that you couldn’t wait to share .
. . And you knew exactly who you would
tell first. Maybe it was your
parents, your best friend, your mentor—it was your go-to person. You were excited, and you knew they would
share in that excitement.
I’ve
been suspended from school, my job is part of the down-sizing at work, we’re
getting a divorce, my children don’t think I can live independently any more .
. . Have you ever had news—life-changing,
significant news that you didn’t want
to share but you needed to share?
Sometimes we need to share our news because we need clarity, we need
affirmation, we need support. News—life-changing,
significant news— A joy shared is doubled; a grief shared is cut in half.
The
Gospel According to Luke begins with life-changing, significant events for 2
cousins—Mary and Elizabeth.
Long-married to Zechariah, the middle-aged Elizabeth has all but given
up on the dream of having a baby.
And yet, wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, she becomes
pregnant. A few months later, her
much younger, engaged but not yet married cousin, Mary, learns that she too is
pregnant. In 1st
century Palestine, under Jewish law, news of a pregnancy was not necessarily
good news to a betrothed young woman.
If the unborn child she carried was not her fiancée’s, she could be
executed for her (well what else could it be?) infidelity. So the news the angel Gabriel brings to
Mary, while life-changing and significant, is not necessarily good news. It is fearful, maybe condemning,
possibly life-ending news. Mary
needs someone to share her news with, someone who will receive it without
judging her. Mary needs someone
who can help her make sense of this news, someone who can perhaps reframe it as
wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles.
Mary needs someone who understands God’s hand in her particular
situation. Mary needs a go-to
person. So she travels to her
elder cousin’s home, and there Elizabeth responds with just what Mary needs—acceptance,
affirmation, and support. God has blessed you and [God] has blessed
the child you carry.[3]
I
believe Mary hurried to share this unexpected, significant, life-changing news
with Elizabeth because she realized Elizabeth could be her go-to person. But that conclusion would come only if she
and Elizabeth had been previously connected with one another in some
significant way. Reflecting on
this scripture, reflecting on Elizabeth and Mary—older, wiser woman and
adolescent girl—I started thinking about inter-generational connections. Many of us have fond memories of time
spent with our grandparents or with special aunts or uncles. Some of us have special memories of
trusted teachers, coaches, mentors.
Perhaps, among them, were our go-to persons. Inter-generational connections . . .
Each
Sunday of late, I’ve noticed GW sitting with P and P . As they greet her, she
shows off her new shoes or her new hairstyle. She tells them about activities at school. And they listen attentively, affirming
her. They applaud her
accomplishments and encourage her conversation. They guide her worship. Now G is already surrounded by a large and loving
multi-generational, blended, extended family. But I can’t help from wondering how God might use this
budding relationship with these “extra” grandparents in the future as G grows from childhood into adolescence—adolescence, a time when we need multiple
strong, loving connections.
Speaking
of adolescence—I think about the connections I see forming here between adults
and our youth. D & J Mc, JM and SB are weaving a beautiful tapestry of
relationships with our middle schoolers.
Studying the Bible, asking questions and pondering possible answers, sharing
concerns and praying together—in Sunday School, we’re making connections. One month a hayrack ride and hot dog
cookout, the next month an evening of caroling and chili, and in January, an
ice-skating adventure in the city—through fun and fellowship, we are making
connections. We are forming
relationships and maybe finding or becoming go-to persons.
Connections—our
need for connections does not depend on age or gender. Our opportunities to connect are not
limited to worship, study, and fellowship. I am reminded of this when I visit the Thrift Shop on
Tuesday mornings or hear about the goings on there on Thursday mornings. A group of anywhere from 4 – 6 women,
gather every Tuesday and Thursday to sort through items and set up the Thrift
Shop for the upcoming Saturday sale.
Some women come every Tuesday and
Thursday; some every Tuesday or Thursday;
some once a month; some when called; some show up because they had an intuition
(I’m going to call it the Holy Spirit speaking) that they were needed. As they work, they share—they share
joys and concerns. They laugh and
cry together. They are
community. They are connecting
through this Thrift Shop mission.
Our
need for connections does not depend on age or gender. Our opportunities to connect are not
limited to worship, study, fellowship and mission. Once a month, a group of men who worship at different
churches in Paola come together.
They share conversation and breakfast. Then they pray together—through the power of the Holy
Spirit, these individuals are connecting with one another, their families are
being connected, and the connections between our churches are strengthening.
Connections—Elizabeth
was Mary’s go-to person. She
trusted Elizabeth to welcome her as she was, not as society or her culture
might expect her to be. Through Elizabeth Mary received the affirmation she
needed—the angel’s pronouncement is good news. All will be well.
Through their devoted connection, Elizabeth was able to perceive and
then prophetically proclaim to Mary— God is working in your life to keep God’s
promises, to extend hope for the future, and to bring light into a dark world.
Connections—they
are like a web that binds us together in love.
Connections—how
might we form relationships in which we accept each other as we are, and not as
we are expected to be? Connections—what
good news comes from the connections we are forming? Connections—what darknesses will our relationships bring
light to? Connections—to whom do
we offer hope by extending our hand in friendship, our ear in listening, our
time in conversation, our hands and feet in service?
Connections—may
our connections help us share the good news not only in this Christmas season,
but in all seasons, at all times, wherever we may find ourselves. Joy to the world. Christ is born. Let earth receive our loving, gracious,
ruler—Christ the child, Christ the king, God incarnate. Hallelujah! Amen.
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