Theological Friday: Reflections for the 4th Sunday in Advent

Revised Common Lectionary readings for the 4th Sunday in Advent:

Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Here's a little apocalyptic weather humor for you (ala Facebook, of course):

On a more serious note, notice how Mary's Magnificat is "apocalyptic" in its own way?

"God's mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation.
God has shown strength with God's arm, God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
God has helped God's servant Israel, in remembrance of God's mercy,
according to the promise God made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (Luke 1:50-55)

Mary proclaims a world turned on her head. Our expectations for what success means, for who has the power, for the way things really work on a cosmic level are turned up side down. And is that not apocalyptic in it's own right?

No wonder Mary (the Theotokos) is always presented to one side of the iconostasis (screen separating the nave from the sanctuary) in Orthodox churches. Mary Theotokos is often to just the left of the door to the sanctuary. She is a powerful prophetic figure herself: full of strength, courage, and the Spirit of God.

We could go on about how God just as often comes "under" our expectations as come "above" them. We might be expecting a new political leader to deliver us from turmoil, and God delivers us (with Mary's help) a child - who needs nurturing, compassion, and guidance.

One more point I want to mention regard Jesus' birth - although we're getting ahead of ourselves as far as the story goes. The other day, someone mentioned that Jesus' birth stories reminded him of stories about various Roman Emperors births. I strongly believe that Jesus' birth stories are to remind us of Roman Emperor birth stories. They are True in the sense that all stories share Truth, in that sense they work beyond a sense of fact. Rather, these birth stories start to ask us, "Who is the True Emperor, the True Ruler of the Cosmos?" The answer, I think we know.

Blessed Be,

Joel