CAMINANDO WITH JESUS: Two Images of Mary

Brendan Murphy on December 16, 2020

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 forever, 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

The city of Nazareth has two separate traditions around the story of the Annunciation. In one, the version that is most popular in Western Christianity, Mary was at prayer in her parent’s home, devotedly reading the scriptures and contemplating the mystery of God when the angel appeared with news of the incarnation. In this tradition, Mary is – even before the angel Gabriel appeared – a perfect symbol of prayerful contemplation, and a most suitable subject for such an amazing invitation. The other tradition is found most often in Eastern Christianity. There, Mary was not at prayer but at work at the well, drawing the water that her family would have expected her to bring home each day, a perfect example of thousands of young women all over Israel at the time when Jesus was born. You can see these two traditions in icons and paintings. In western art, Mary is often shown indoors, in a library, kneeling at prayer. In Orthodox icons, the Annunciation shows Mary at the well with a water jar, at work when the angel arrived.
Both are lovely images, and both have much to say to us on this the fourth Sunday of Advent, but I must admit I prefer the Eastern image. Our Gospel doesn’t say much about the background of this story, and no doubt each tradition contains elements of the truth, but I love the idea of Mary going about her everyday business, chosen not because she was so very different, but because she was, in some ways, like all of us. If Mary, the Mother of Our Lord could say yes to the good news of the incarnation, then perhaps there is hope for me, after all. If Mary, in the middle of her chores, could find space to stop and listen, to pray, and respond in faith, then perhaps there is hope for you, after all. Perhaps that is the invitation of this time: to pause, to wonder, and to listen. Where is God inviting you, calling you, challenging you? Is there a still, small voice that offers hope? Are there possibilities that – if only, just maybe – God might work in and through you?
It’s here that the Western image of Mary speaks too. Because as wonderful as that first image is, of Mary chosen while at work, the reality is that Mary’s response is the answer that comes from prayer, from faithful study of the scriptures, from seeking holiness. “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) comes from deep connection, from knowing God and knowing ourselves in relationship with God. We cannot respond faithfully; we struggle to say yes to holy invitations if we don’t already know the one who calls us and invites us.

In this season as our advent journey turns towards Bethlehem, may we find ourselves inspired by these two images of Mary the Mother of Our Lord. May we know God through prayer and study so that when God calls, our “yes” comes easily. And may we find God in the ordinary and extraordinary parts of our lives, a source of comfort, hope and joy. Amen.

The Rev. Canon Sally French is the interim east regional canon in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.