Dear Doubters of Great Faith,
This is the final week of Fr. Christopher’s vacation, and I know we are all itching to have our dear rector with us again.
As many of you know, this coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday is the most recent principal feast of our Church Year, but even then, it has been around for more than just few centuries! Your seminarian has been given the daunting task of bringing this week’s sermon. It should be an interesting time for the lot of us—ha! I look forward to seeing all of you this week on our virtual and in-person platforms.
Due to Sunday’s feast I will be devoting much of my sermon to the Holy Trinity. Consequently, I will not be preaching about one of my favorite days of the year, so I thought I might bring it to your attention in this week’s Doubter. In addition to being Memorial Day, Monday is also the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This important feast commemorates Mary’s visit to her very pregnant cousin Elizabeth, the soon-to-be mother of John the Baptizer.
As a child it was easy for me to get caught up in typical images of Mary: meek and mild, docile, and perhaps even a bit domesticated. It wasn’t until I grew older that I came to see Mary for who she truly was: a fierce prophet (and perhaps even priest) of God’s coming reign. If you get a chance, take a look at the end of chapter 1 of Luke’s gospel. Commonly called the Magnificat, Mary sings:
“[God] has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.”
“[God] has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.”
“[God] has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”
To me, this sounds an awful lot like the reign of God that would be proclaimed by Mary’s son, Jesus. Maybe this mother and Son are on to something. Maybe God is at work in the world.
This song is more than just an invitation to Mary’s baby shower. Through her words, Mary heralds the arrival of a new kingdom, and invites us to participate in it. This kingdom is not the least bit concerned with one’s wealth or prestige. This kingdom does not sacrifice the vulnerable in order to make a quick buck; nor does it rely upon brute strength—or firepower—in order to maintain “greatness.”
With her Magnificat, Mary says that God has chosen sides—and this is Good News, for all of us.
So this Monday (May 31st) make some time to toast, to feast, or to just sit in quiet contemplation as we—with the child in Elizabeth’s womb—“leap for joy” at the sound of our Lord’s greeting.
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (BCP 240).
Until Sunday,
Allen
