Post by Admin on Nov 29, 2018 7:07:01 GMT
Tonight’s discussion focused on the biological mother of Jesus, Mary. First, there was some background, which suggested a naivete on Mary’s part that helps with understanding her quick assent – in this time, a Jewish girl would have been between 12 and 14 when betrothed to a man by her family. The marriage with sexual consummation would come a year or so after betrothal. During this engagement period, the couple were committed – a divorce was required to cancel the marriage. That means Mary was just a girl when confronted by the angel; in her time, she would have had family support responsibilities already, yet she would not have been very immature. Certainly she was not the 20-something often pictured, nor an older person like Moses, who when approached by God for a mission started off by saying, “Not me.” Mary was worried and frightened by the appearance of the angel, and asked questions. She did not try to get out of her selection or state any denials. With our life experience, we are more likely to focus on the impossibility of a task, rather than the power of God to make all things possible.
We talked about the use of the term “favored,” both what it meant to Mary, and what it means to us. We were not convinced that Mary was singularly sinless or superior, rather that she was the right person with the right attitude at the right moment for God’s plan, and her reaction to the implausible pregnancy seems to the prove that. “Favored” seems more like a way to explain that God is going to do something with and for her – so we could all be “favored” if we were compliant to God’s will. One thing we noticed: the angel explains that the Holy Spirit would come upon her to make her pregnant – that would have been completely out of her experience or understanding.
Which might explain why Mary says “yes” to the angel, and then runs to her friend or relative (Elizabeth), before she sings her song of praise. It’s after Elizabeth’s in utero baby reacts, and inspires Elizabeth to reinforce the words of the angel, that Mary seems to move from acceptance to welcome, and presents her confident song of praise to God. That suggests God understands the power of validating our understanding to give us confidence to pursue Him and His expectations for us. Having friends and family supporting one another is good and necessary. It gave Mary the strength to assemble her beautiful poem, possibly her favorite bits of scripture, strung together. If we were to write a confident poem about God, what resources would we use? Favorite hymns or choir songs, or favorite Bible verses.
We talked about the use of the term “favored,” both what it meant to Mary, and what it means to us. We were not convinced that Mary was singularly sinless or superior, rather that she was the right person with the right attitude at the right moment for God’s plan, and her reaction to the implausible pregnancy seems to the prove that. “Favored” seems more like a way to explain that God is going to do something with and for her – so we could all be “favored” if we were compliant to God’s will. One thing we noticed: the angel explains that the Holy Spirit would come upon her to make her pregnant – that would have been completely out of her experience or understanding.
Which might explain why Mary says “yes” to the angel, and then runs to her friend or relative (Elizabeth), before she sings her song of praise. It’s after Elizabeth’s in utero baby reacts, and inspires Elizabeth to reinforce the words of the angel, that Mary seems to move from acceptance to welcome, and presents her confident song of praise to God. That suggests God understands the power of validating our understanding to give us confidence to pursue Him and His expectations for us. Having friends and family supporting one another is good and necessary. It gave Mary the strength to assemble her beautiful poem, possibly her favorite bits of scripture, strung together. If we were to write a confident poem about God, what resources would we use? Favorite hymns or choir songs, or favorite Bible verses.