Oh, Mary

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38

Oh, Mary

Oh, Mary  sweet child of God
what you did for all of us
making yourself a vessel for God
birthing love to a broken world.

You alone bore the shame and rejection
carrying the unborn to Bethlehem
Oh, Mary you gave up your comfort
so that we might truly know the Comforter.

Mary, you fled with Joseph to Egypt
a child bundled in your weary arms
you lived among strangers as an alien
so we might know the living God.

You brought him back and guided him
to the temple and to the workshop
you brought out his first miracle
despite his resistance and concern.

You in your aged body kneeled
drenched in tears and blood at the cross
you wept for the life you gave the world
aching for the ignorance of the powerful.

You, Mary leapt with joy at the angel's words
the sight of the risen life offered for all
the movement of God stronger than hate
the love of God more powerful than death.