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The Girl from Nazareth
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Nazareth, one of the least of the cities of Galilee, was situated in a narrow, secluded valley, populated by those who worked the land and tradesmen such as Joseph, the carpenter. Whilst Galilee itself seems to have been held in low regard by the more sophisticated southerners of Jerusalem, Nazareth was even looked down upon by other Galileans - Nathaniel asks "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46) The answer must be a resounding "Yes" as God sends His messenger to the girl He has chosen to bear His Son. She is disturbed but not panicked by the message. Deeply rooted in the Hebrew scriptures and full of expectant faith in God's promise of the Messiah, she simply asks how God will accomplish His will in her. She is not naive and well aware of the facts of life so she knows God is doing a sovereign work. With faith and trust she gives her "fiat". She is told of her cousin Elizabeth's pregnancy, not virginal, but certainly miraculous -evidence indeed of the power of God. Yes To God Her immediate response is to visit this aging cousin in the last months of her pregnancy. We can only conjecture about the confidences they shared in private but we do know how the Holy Spirit worked in their encounter - Elizabeth experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit, as did her unborn son and Mary's faith and trust was affirmed by Elizabeth's recognition of her as "the mother of my Lord." What follows is an amazing hymn of praise from a remarkably mature young girl. Her focus is on the greatness and goodness of God. Only too well aware of her humble social status, she also has that poverty of spirit which recognises her total dependence on God and His faithfulness to His promises to Abraham and his descendents, of whom she is one. Drawing on the wealth of the Hebrew scriptures, echoing Miriam, Hannah and the Psalms, Mary proclaims the outcome of God's intervention in a new moral, social and economic order which Jesus will later declare as the coming of the kingdom. Her time with Elizabeth, the joy and fellowship of the Holy Spirit they shared must have graced Mary to face the extraordinariness other situation. Only God could prevent the disgrace, possible divorce (betrothal was as binding as marriage) and even death by stoning, all of which were real possibilities for an unmarried girl in her condition. She believes Gabriel's declaration that "nothing is impossible to God" and Joseph's concerns are addressed - she can now look forward to the birth of her child. Nothing Is Impossible For God Not for Mary a confinement surrounded by family, friends and neighbours like Elizabeth. Again her faith and trust are evident as she journeys south once again, this time for the census and as it transpired, for the birth of Jesus. Not for Mary the traditional community celebrations at the birth of a son but heavenly choirs, outcast shepherds, wise men bearing prophetic gifts and a hasty retreat to Egypt to avoid the murderous Herod. Obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, they survive their exile in Egypt and eventually return, settling in Nazareth again. What vicissitudes she has coped with! How many times would she have reminded herself that she enjoyed God's favour and not to be afraid? Supported by Joseph, at Jesus' Presentation in the Temple, as they offered the traditional sacrifice of the poor, Simeon and Anna had recognised the long awaited Messiah. Simeon's words gave them much food for thought and indicated to Mary the sorrow that lay ahead. For many this future pain would have been what they focussed on and ruined the "now" but Mary seems to have been able to live in the present moment and until Jesus is twelve we have no details of their family life, other than that Jesus grew to maturity, filled with wisdom and God's favour.(Luke 2:40) A new stage in Mary's life and relationship with Jesus is initiated by the journey to Jerusalem when He goes missing for three days. Anyone who has lost a child for even a few minutes will have some idea of the anxiety of Mary and Joseph as they searched for Jesus. Taking His new status as a "son of the Law" very much to heart and having begun to understand something of who His Father is, His response to His mother must cause a re-evaluation in the family dynamics. Although it will be many years before He leaves the family home for public ministry, Mary has an intimation that where once she led, later she will follow. Perhaps she remembers this occasion when her blessedness is demonstrated to lie in believing God's word and doing His will. (Lukell:28) Mary The Disciple
The scriptures do not speak of any individual appearance of Jesus to Mary after the Resurrection, but obedient as ever to the directive to remain in Jerusalem until the descent of the Holy Spirit, we find Mary with the Apostles united in constant prayer waiting for Pentecost. The wheel has come full circle in the life of
this Nazarene woman. The scriptures tell us nothing of her birth and
childhood in Nazareth and now nothing other later years and death
but we have all we need to take her as our model ofdiscipleship. Truly,
the Lord did great things for her and every generation since has called
her "blessed." Nazareth is no longer despised.
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All
the qualities Mary showed through her own youth and Jesus' childhood
remained to strengthen and support her for the trials of His adult
years. How hard it must have been to hear Him ridiculed and disregarded
by those who had known Him all His life. How heartfelt her prayers
must have 