Each day of this advent I was guided by a couple of Advent meditation booklets.  On December 12, one of the books mentioned that it was the feast day of Our Lady of Guadulape.  If you don’t know the story, look it up.  My booklet said that the vision called herself by an Aztec word that meant “woman who trods on the snake”, but the bishop misunderstood the unfamiliar name and thought she was referring to a city in Spain.

The idea that Mary, meek and mild, perpetual virgin, could call herself  ’snake crusher’, was a  stunning revelation. But the more I considered it, the more excited I became.  Think about it.  Miryam, at her age, was betrothed to be married.  Women her age had been working hard for years already, and some were already married and had children.

The Jewish people had been praying for decades for the Messiah, who would come and free them from their bondage.  Many of the people expected the Messiah to be a mighty warrior, and brave girls dreamed of being the woman who would bring into the world the Messiah who would save their people.  Perhaps even Miryam had such a dream.

Obviously, a young woman who could dream such a dream would not be a meek and quiet girl, content to sit by the hearth and sew garments.  One would have to be quite adventurous and far-thinking to have such an ambition.

And so Gabriel came to Miryam and told her that Creator had chosen her, from among all women, to bring forth this Son.  Now, this was a culture that stoned women for adultry.  An an unmarried woman who was pregnant was considered an adulterer.  If Miryam said ‘yes’ to God, she was saying ‘yes’ to a death sentence.  And yet her trust in God was such that she said ‘yes’!

This woman had the soul and spirit of a Warrior!  This woman was a suitable vessel for God’s beloved son.  She had the courage, the strength, and the faith to say ‘yes’ to an incredible, unimaginable task.

As I pondered what courage it took for this woman to assent to God, I became more and more in awe of her.  And then a week later I came across a painting called ‘Pieta’ by a man named William Bouguereau who lived in the 1800’s.  I have never seen such an image of Mary before.  It took my breath away.  Miryam held her dead son’s body across her body, and she looked out with an expression that just dared anyone to touch her dear son.  She was a lioness!  The strength and the heartbreak in that image took my breath away.  This is a woman fit to bear and to raise God’s own son.

I will never imagine a slender, meek, blonde Mary again.  I have a new image to go to when I need help as a wife and mother.

Advent . . . a season of waiting.

I have had two children.  One of the things I loved most about being pregnant was the stirring of my child in my womb.  I would sit with my arms around my belly and feel my baby kick and move.  At night, in bed, I would lie on my side and feel this small one keep me company.  I waited, and I wondered what this child would be like.

I feel a similar sense of expectancy this season.  We light the second candle on the Advent wreath, and we know that Christmas is coming, the same way that Mary knew that her child would be coming.

I can only imagine what Mary must have been thinking about.  I  knew how my child had come to be.  Mary’s child had not come the same way.  Every time Mary felt her baby stirring, she was reminded that this child had prophesy and promise attatched.

And yet, thirty-three years later she saw this prophesy murdered on a cross.  I would have gone insane.  But Mary didn’t go insane, and three days later she witnessed a miracle even greater than that of the conception of her child.

In this Advent year of 2009, many are very afraid.  So many have lost so many things.  So many are suffering.   But God gave us a promise in Isaiah 43:

¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.

² When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

³ For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Mary did not live to see the prophesy for her child come to be, but she witnessed her son die, and then through the power of God, she witnessed this child overcome death.  And as she held her beloved son, brought to life a second time, she had to know that despite all appearances, all would be well.

This Advent, as we wait for God to manifest, may we take heart from Mary’s experience.  May we know that, despite any and all appearances, God is in charge, and all will be well.