When I was a teenager, there was a book written by Marjorie Holmes titled, “Two From Galilee”. I read and reread it at least a dozen times. It depicted the relationship between Mary and Joseph as a loving and innocent romance. She had known him all her life, was in love with him, and he with her. She was beautiful, and her father knew he could match her with a much wealthier man, but Joseph was who she wanted and she wouldn’t give him up.
Total fiction I know, but it marked my young teenage girl’s heart.
Mary’s encounter with the angel was typically written. She was startled by him and of course those oft spoken words of, “Fear not” were issued with gentle, but firm insistence. They had already been said to Zechariah, in the temple, when he was told his wife would conceive. Now Mary was their recipient.
Busy year for this angel!
The entire Christmas narrative is littered with the words, “Fear Not”. Joseph, the shepherds, Mary, Zechariah. It seems that the arrival of fulfilled prophecies, involving unsuspecting humans, might require a bit of fear calming. Reasonable, right?
I think so.
Shoot, I need to be calmed, when I can’t find exactly what I need in a grocery store, to make a recipe from 40 years ago. My annual cheese ball is a good example. Roquefort cheese is almost impossible to find, and Philly, doesn’t make 4oz creme cheese bricks with chives anymore. Substitutions don’t taste the same, and I fear I may never experience my past food coma joy. And that doesn’t include finding the traditional crackers for it. Food manufacturers need to hear this…
Don’t mess with the family cheese ball recipe!
How many times have I wished for an angelic being to arrive at my most fearful moments, and tell me to “Fear NOT”? Probably too many to count. I’m not sure it would have helped, but I wouldn’t mind giving one a try, I bet it would be memorable. Fear has accompanied me on many of my journeys in life, often it’s been my chronic, constant companion.
Mary’s “Fear Not” was in preparation for her role as the mother of Jesus. As a Jewish girl, she probably knew the Messiah would arrive somehow, or someway, to her people one day. My guess, is that she never imagined it would come through her.
Surprise!
I’m not sure how preparatory ‘Fear Nots’ differ from those that accompany my fearful life experiences. There may be a small consolation from the fact that Mary did nothing to bring hers on herself, it was happening to her, not because of her. Maybe that helped?
I’m not sure.
Fear is such an insidious emotion. It has deep and long lasting effects on behaviors and attitudes, and surrendering to it is as easy as breathing. Control, fear’s alter ego, raises its ugly head when fear arrives. It’s as if control will eliminate all fear. Then life will be safe, secure and maybe even perfect. In some part of my being I cling to this possibility with claws of steel.
But – nope…
I’ve watched fear dictate behaviors in people, that cause incredible harm to those around them. I know fear has caused me to injure people I never wanted to injure. As much as I might want to blame a different reason, scratch the surface, and fear is the cause of many of my worst moments.
Mary’s song, in Luke chapter 1 (the first verses will forever live in my memory as a song, KJV), is an indication of how her experience with the angel, expressed itself in her thinking and emotions.
Vs 50, “…his mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”
Vs 51, “He has done mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”
Vs 52, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble.”
Vs 53, “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”
Her words seem to indicate that she’s had a shift in perspective from ‘be it unto me’ and ‘I will be remembered’, to a more global one of ‘God is controlling this show and I’m merely a bit player’. I know I’m poorly, dissecting prophetic words, but to me they are also personal ones. Her eyes have been opened to a greater world than the one she exists in.
I’m not looking to start a discussion on the merits of humility, poverty and pride. However, it occurs to me that the God who remembers long, keeps his word, powerfully takes down world rulers, performs mighty deeds, knows our inmost thoughts, and fills those who are hungry for him with his goodness, just might be completely trustworthy.
Maybe?!
There is definitely a cautionary element to Mary’s song. One that gives pause, allowing me to see God’s hand in her life while also directing world events. It moves me to trust him with my life, the lives of my loved ones, and the complicated societal problems and issues in my world. It gives me confidence that God is the true ruler of the world. His throne is eternal, unshakeable, impervious to the temporary evils of mankind. He will ultimately establish a kingdom that HE reigns, where justice and right living will be normal.
Eventually Mary has a couple of hiccups with her son. Indications that control had risen to overcome her trust. But here, where it all began, her trust in God’s plan for mankind and her own life, are evident in her words and actions.
Let them also be so in me…
Merry Christmas!
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