Written by Mattea Gernentz, a contemporary poet, writer, and curator. This is an excerpt from “A Beautiful Year in the Bible.”
For generations, God’s chosen people had anxiously awaited their promised Messiah, the one who would mark the fulfillment of God’s promises and plans. Amid this collective waiting, Elizabeth, a woman beyond the years of childbearing, is astonished when she conceives a child [John the Baptist]…Her young cousin, Mary, visits and shares the news of her own miraculous pregnancy. Mary bears the Messiah himself…Mary and Elizabeth’s stories remind us that everyone is invited to participate in God’s plans. Although human beings often draw lines of division—due to age, status, or experience—God deliberately crosses these boundaries, choosing those we may overlook as instruments for Shalom—God’s perfect peace. Elizabeth was considered too old, and Mary was poor and unwed, but both women were pivotal figures in God’s redemptive work. The Lord’s inclusive nature extends to us today. Just as Elizabeth and Mary contributed to the vision of God’s Kingdom, we too are called to play a role in God’s ongoing story, offering our unique “yes” through out time and abilities…God’s vision for the world is much like a community garden wherein every person, regardless of background or capability, contributes to the growth and health of the whole…We are part of something greater…a holy vision that transcends the limits of our understanding. May we surrender to joyfully living out God’s purpose for us all.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” [Luke 1:38]
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