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The Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
Almighty God, who hast given thy only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavor ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 15)
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The Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
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Scripture citation(s): Luke 1:46-55
A Sermon by
Fr. Mead
on
Luke 1:46-55
✛
The Blessed Virgin Mary
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For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen.
August 15 has been an important feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary for about 1500 years. The Roman Catholic Church calls the day the Assumption, or the taking up of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the end of her earthly life into heaven. The Eastern Orthodox call this the Dormition, or falling asleep, of Mary, meaning much the same thing. The Book of Common Prayer, using the same lessons from Scripture and a very similar Collect for the Day, simply calls it the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here at Saint Thomas we have for thirty five years now taken the opportunity on a summer Sunday falling on or near August 15, to reflect on Mary’s role in the Gospel and in our faith. We have beautiful images of Mary all over our Church. Recently a group of parishioners (thanks to Fr. Richard Martin) have formed a local ward of the Society of Mary, an Episcopal and Anglican devotional group, to learn and practice devotion to the Blessed Mother of Jesus.
Devotion to Mary is not just Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox. There is a rich tradition of Marian devotion in Anglicanism, including even the time of the Reformation, coming down to the present day. Only a year ago an excellent Joint Statement on Mary was issued by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) which will no doubt be a significant historic document for the whole Church.
Devotion to Mary could be found even in the heart of early Dutch Calvinism. On the wall of my bedroom is a “re-strike” of an etching by Rembrandt of the death (Dormition, Assumption) of Mary. The Beloved Disciple John and others are gathered about her bed (a four-poster with curtains for the cold) and the angels above preparing to take Mary home to her Son in heaven.
Of course the importance of Mary, from beginning to end, has to do with her role and her example in relation to Christ. I have described Rembrandt’s sketch of the end. In our Chantry, at the very top of the wood reredos above the altar, is an image of the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel announces the coming of Christ to the Virgin Mary, who is kneeling at her prayer desk. There is an exchange between them, “Hail, thou highly favored one, the Lord is with thee…” and then Mary’s response, “Let it be to me according to thy word.” Between Gabriel and Mary, in an aura above a lily, is the Christ, the Word who is conceived, made flesh, through Mary’s own hearing of the Word.
The bronze image of our Lady of Fifth Avenue in the rear of the Chantry is one of the most frequently visited and prayed-in spots in all of Saint Thomas (which is a place steeped in prayer every day of the week). I can feel the devotion in that place. Within the altar rails of the Chantry, there is a medieval Spanish gothic image of the young mother and her child. We know it is fifteenth century, because that’s when these gothic images started smiling. Both our Mother and Baby are smiling. Of course, above the cross on the great high altar reredos, on either side of the risen, reigning Lord, are Mary and the Beloved Disciple John.
If we were to gather up all the references to Mary the Mother of Jesus in the four Gospels, a clear picture emerges of humility, faith, growth in faithfulness, perseverance and patience even through suffering, and a full share in the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let us take a few instances.
First, Mary’s humility and faith carried her through fear and doubt. At the Annunciation by Gabriel: “How shall this be, since I know not a man?” The Holy Spirit will overshadow you; and with God nothing shall be impossible, was the angel’s answer. And God provided. Joseph, her betrothed husband, was led to stand by her and protect her from the possibility of social condemnation; to make a forced move to Bethlehem for the birth, to flee for the infant’s life into Egypt; to help raise the Child in Nazareth.
Second, Mary’s faith continued to grow. She had a key role in Jesus’ first miracle in the wedding at Cana in Galilee, but she also feared for Jesus’ safety as opposition to him grew more fierce. She wanted him to come home. Then she had to hear her Son say that his true family (including mother) were those who heard the word of God and kept it. When Jesus was an infant being presented in the temple, Mary heard a prophecy that the child would cause a sword to pierce her own heart. Now it was coming, preparing her for the cross. Who in the world could know Mary’s sorrow and pain to witness such a thing as Calvary?
Third, Mary has a full share in the triumph of the Resurrection and the power and joy of the Holy Spirit. She was with the apostles through the first Easter. She was in the Upper Room with them on the Day of Pentecost. The sorrowful mystery at the cross was wonderfully transformed by the glorious mystery of the resurrection.
The fact is, Jesus at the cross gave his mother to his whole family, the family of faith. Looking at the Beloved Disciple and his Mother, he said, “Woman, behold your Son.” The Beloved Disciple is not only John but all who, like John, believe in Jesus. To him Jesus said, “Behold, your Mother.” And from that hour, says the Gospel of John, that disciple took her into his own home.
Countless millions of Christians have done just that ever since. For Mary, having herself been taken up by God and having a full share in the resurrection and everlasting life, is now available to us within the Body of Christ. She can be part of our faith and devotion, and there is no better place to learn of her than in Holy Scripture. There is not an episode concerning Mary in the four Gospels that does not bear much fruit in reflection upon her and what she has to teach about the Christian’s relation to Jesus Christ our Lord and God. As the expectant young Mother sings in today’s Gospel, giving us the Magnificat, her own Psalm of praise, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoiceth in God my Savior. For he who is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is his name.” Blessed Mary, you are truly the Mother and Help of all who believe and follow your Son. All generations will indeed call you blessed!
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen.
