Mary’s Story

Years ago, a colleague of mine share two diverse experiences of young women who were pregnant. The first was of a girl in his homeroom class. For years, they shared the same row, with her name coming just before his in the taking of daily attendance. One day, no response. Then another. At first, my colleague didn’t realize the cause of her absence. “She must be sick,” he thought. Then one day turned into one week, and one week turned into one month. As time passed, rumors began to swirl of the young girl’s absence. “She pregnant,” people would whisper. He would go on to share that, in those times, to be pregnant at her age was a scarlet mark. She was pushed to the fringe of society, with little help and the stigma of what had happened. Can you imagine the pain? Can you imagine how scared she might have been and how alone she might have felt? 

The other story shared in his sermon was of his sister who had tried to get pregnant. For years they had wanted a child, and even with the help of doctors and modern medicine, the option of childbirth seemed to elude them. At the brink of looking for alternative options to becoming parents, she called her brother with the news. “I’m pregnant,” she said. The joy leaping from the phone as her prayers had finally been answered. Can you imagine the joy? Can you imagine how happy she might have been, surrounded by friends and family who would love, care, and support this child as their own?

Two diverse stories of expectant mothers, with two different trajectories. As you hear these stories, you might be asking yourself the same question this pastor posed to his congregation: “Which story more accurately embodies Mary’s story?”  My guess is both. Over these past few weeks, we have been reminded of her story. The fear of telling Joseph that she is pregnant. The pain and uncertainty of how the community will react. The joy of telling her cousin Elizabeth that she is with child. The hope of what is to come with their family and this child. 

Fear and joy are part of Mary’s story. It’s part of our story, too. Through it all, Mary remains devoted to a God who is ever-present and always faithful for she says,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for God has looked with favor on the lowliness of the Almighty’s servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
God’s mercy is for those who fear God
from generation to generation.
God has shown strength with God’s arm;
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.
God has helped servant Israel,
in remembrance of God’s mercy,
according to the promise God made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

In this Advent season, may we see the depth of Mary’s story. May we see her fear and her joy, and may we learn how to respond to a God who calls us all to bear light unto the nations.