Do you know any truly remarkable people? I’m sure there’s someone that pops into your head. Are they famous? Are they rich or fantastically good-looking? Are they loaded and have every possible bell and whistle that could be? I think that this is our culture’s definition of remarkable. These are the extraordinary folks who have everything going for them and their recognizable as a result. Maybe the someone remarkable you know doesn’t fit this description – maybe their not super wealthy, or not briliantly fantastic, but at the very least, they’re known.
I think this idea of a society bent on remarkable people – how we drool over them – is one of the reasons I love the Advent season. If you think about it, there’s very little about the whole story that is remarkable. We’ve sensationalized the story of Jesus’ birth a lot. But when you really boil it down, the story is absurd and a little unremarkable. Other than the announcement stories – Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph’s vision – we’re talking a very NORMAL process. Yet this story has the power to fill and transform humanity with a sense of awe each year. I think that even folks who celebrate the commercial elements of the season are swept up in an awe that is “manger fed.” Most of us can’t help it – it’s the hope that Christmas is all about.
This un-remarkableness of the multiple lives that merge in the Advent Story is really pretty remarkable. This post is about Mary – what was so remarkable about her? Nothing. She was a 13 year old girl that lived in a suburb ghetto so unimportant that the name of Nazareth is not found in the towns of Israel. It was the last rest stop out of town (and one you only went to if you were absolutely desperate). Mary was the child of a family that was unremarkable – tradition tells us Mary’s mother was Anna, but that’s it. They probably lived in a cave with a room or two built above it. This is not a known family.
And Mary? Again, she was only 13 and hadn’t done a thing but carry a water pitcher to the well and back. If there’s anything remarkable about Mary its found in her response to the Messenger – “Here I am.” Sure she was initially “perplexed” about the Messenger’s greeting – who wouldn’t?!? Hello, you who are highly thought of by the GOD of ALL! Mary wouldn’t have been highly thought of by anyone, let alone the Holy One. When the Messenger continues his message, her question is even filled with wonder – “Pregnant…now, I know you’ve got the wrong person – I’m a virgin!”
The angel must have understood her confusion. I wonder if even the host of Heaven were wondering what God was doing with such an unremarkable person. But when she answered the angel, they must have all seen it. “Here I am, let it be unto me as the Holy One desires.” That’s no statement of reservation. It’s prophetic. It’s rooted in trust and relationship and divine connection. Her womb would be the abode of God, but her heart already housed the Holy. She was already connected with this God in such a way that when He came and gave her a job to accomplish, her answer was “All of me.” This response isn’t the same thing as saying “hello” when we answer the phone. This phrase was the calling card response of almost every faithfulnobody that God would choose to use to alter the course of a nation and world – Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah all had their “here I am” moments. And now, this young girl is once again speaking with such trust and openness that heaven applauds.
I don’t know about you, but that’s remarkable! Mary’s answer causes more wonder in my heart than any other remarkable promise my tv tells me will be mine if I just buy this or that. I wonder if this is the real prayer of Advent – will we/I be a people that is willing to say “here I am”?