In the first reading of the Scripture for today’s celebration of the Immaculate Conception GN 3: 9-15, 20, we hear a recounting of perhaps the original biblical “blame game.” Suddenly, after eating of the forbidden tree in the garden, Adam realizes he is “naked.” God immediately realizes that the only way Adam could know this is if he has eaten fruit of the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. Upon confrontation, Adam immediately passes the blame onto Eve, who in turn claims that the serpent tricked her into eating the fruit – literally, “the devil made me do it!”
Perhaps we could look at this part of the creation story not so much as the story of how “sin” entered the world, but focus on the very last line of the story, “The man gave his wife the name “Eve,” because she was the mother of all the living.” What if this story is meant to point up the fact that we live in a world where we do feel “naked” and vulnerable many times, perhaps even most of the time, though we may not admit it. It is the manner in which we experience our world, it is our mode of living that is a gift yet that brings with it difficulty, pain, misunderstanding, and a whole slew of other things. We need to be “nourished,” cared for, and safe many times – i.e., we need to be “mothered.” And such is the case that the reverse is true. We are all called to “mother” each other at times. This is not the “doting” image of motherhood, but instead the gentle strength that en-genders communal responsibility. It’s not so much a gender issue as much as it is a human one.
In the Gospel (LK 1: 26-38), we listen to the beautiful, though not often considered, terrifying account of the young girl Mary’s encounter with Gabriel, the messenger of God, who is basically telling this young woman that her life is getting ready to be turned upside down and inside out! Bracketing the piety sometimes associated with this passage, the uncertainty, seeming doubt, confusion, and outright fright of the young virgin stand out in huge letters! She questions the possibility of everything that Gabriel is telling her concerning the birth of salvation for the world, in which Mary was to play a pivotal role – the understatement of all time! This was not a cynical doubt expressed by this young lady, but instead it was a genuine question born from a human heart of trust.
Mary finally seems to “accept” what the angel is telling her, when she is told that her dear cousin, in her old age, is also pregnant. Mary could then relate – someone she loves dearly, her cousin Elizabeth, is experiencing something seemingly impossible yet infinitely great. I’m sure she must have felt some solidarity in this moment. And she proclaims those famous words that again seem pietistic, but in fact are perhaps the most powerful and simultaneously vulnerable words that one can utter, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word?”
These words “handmaid of the Lord….may it be done to me according to your word,” far from being a proclamation of resignation and acceptance of a “doormat” image of subservience, are the uncertain yet committed response of compassion and strength, coming from an “innocent” youth who has somehow been able to engage in life in such a trusting way that the livelihood of others is at least as important as her own. The possibility of salvation for all – i.e., the possibility of shared love, care, concern, peace and justice for all – touches her heart and soul in a way that empowers her to respond strongly and vulnerably to a responsibility that seems unfathomable.
Mary can be seen as Eve in the first reading – the Mother of All. She is more than a woman, even beyond gender; she is the image of nourishment and care that is the cornerstone piece of Jesus’ mission and the Christ journey. When we look at Mary, we can perhaps begin to see how our own “naked” lives – many times experienced as uncertain, confused, painful, and even frightening – have the possibility of becoming so much more, when we can accept the responsibility that we have for each other, to truly respond in a “mothering” way, nourishing and caring for one another with the assurance that we are “in this” together. And in this community of solidarity we can show the face of Christ, the Advent of God, in our prayers and actions, trusting and holding one another!
Peace
Thomas