Lectio
“Knowing the greatness of her Maker and the littleness of herself that was made, — caused her to say full meekly to Gabriel: Lo me, God’s handmaid! In this sight I understood soothly that she is more than all that God made beneath her in worthiness and grace; for above her is nothing that is made but the blessed Manhood Of Christ, as to my sight.”
— Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
Meditatio
Mary’s greatness was exactly in her humility. In understanding her smallness before God’s magnificence and glory, she was given to see what no one beneath her could see, and to receive what no one beneath her could receive. Her meekness was not something she achieved, but the space in her where God’s greatness could be known. In this, she became, for all who follow her, what it means to consent to this space within us, and to serve the Lord lovingly and faithfully.
Mary was, and is, the mother of all who would learn to see as she saw — to behold God’s greatness and our own littleness in the same unguarded glance, and find, in that beholding, not loss but home. It was this seeing, given to her as pure gift, that became, in the same moment, her willing yes — freely offered, freely received — answering, at last, the no of the one who came before her, and so she received God into her womb.
And in her receiving of the Spirit of the Lord, she became the Mother of that same Lord in the flesh and for the benefit of all humankind. As she received the Spirit of the Lord, so may we, through grace, receive that Spirit — with the same meekness, faith, and humility — becoming, ourselves, the birthplace of Christ in the world.
And though we can never hope to be as magnificent as Mary, we can pray to be as small as her. We can pray to be lowly servants of God, surrendering to His loving will. And when He approaches, in whatever form He happens to take, saying, “Do not be afraid,” we can pray to respond as our Blessed Mother — the Mother of spiritual consent — responded, to say, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.“
Oratio
In My Smallness
in my smallness
I receive You
in all Your glory
Your magnificence
this mystery
confounds me
that I must decrease
that You may increase
in and through me
so often I say no
not yet
not like this
but You whisper
be not afraid
I am Love
become Love
through Me
Contemplatio
If Mary’s littleness was the room God needed to enter the world, where in your life are you too big to make room for God?
Related Scripture
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
— Luke 1:46-55 (NRSVCE)
For Further Reading
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Becoming Worship: Silence, Consent, and the Sacred Dance, which traces the same sacred logic of consent — the yes given and received — found at the heart of worship itself.
Robert Van Valkenburgh
Grappling With Divinity.
Wrestling With God.
Returning To Love.
Leave a Reply