A CORD to ponder on-

                      A CORD

               by Graham Kings

One accord for all

between

God and woman:

according to his Word,

God becomes

conceivably small.



Life-giving cord

is cut for life:

Heir of the world

gulps

air of the world.


Bishop Graham Kings spoke about his poem in his Christmas address on Christmas Day 2012 in Dorchester

The Girl with the Wings of an Angel in her Eyes

What was she expecting,

The girl with the wings of an angel in her eyes?

A child, yes, a son...

But having known no man in the Biblical sense,

Having no physical father to ponder,

What she must have wondered,

As mind and stomach stretched,

Might a man born of divine essence

And sweet obedience,

Resemble?

An angel, a seraph? Or some holy paragon?

With thr first Adam's pure fresh gaze?

Jacob'ssmooth hands, Moses' radiant face,

Or the wavy, raven locks of Solomon

And a body like polished ivory?

How would God manifast his glory?

Could she conceive this son of the most high,

Would choose to look really rather ordinary?

Miracles, she would learn, ar not all discerned

With the naked eye.

Mark Greene. Nov 2011 EG edn 31

Getting to know Mary-some reflections

How often we see do we see portraits of Mary usually with the Angel messenger, looking beautiful, demure and not at all like one who might help with the housework or look after the kids? Yet surely Mary was a sensible, feisty young woman, a member of a large extended family where it was usual to help with household tasks and childcare? When I have visited my friends in Peru or Uganda I am very aware of the many married brothers and sisters and children. There always seemed to be someone-an older sister, niece or cousin to help when the new baby arrived and women of the family to help with childbirth. Mary too would have been involved at such times.
Her home too while simple was not one of extreme poverty. Joseph’s family were builders, perhaps Mary’s family too were in a similar trade. The family lived and slept in the one room above the stabling and store or shop. Surely too this was a warm and loving family who loved God and followed the religious practices of their forefathers. Mary would have been familiar with scriptures and perhaps the Father had been preparing them as they read the prophecies about the Messiah.

I think Mary would have become familiar with the way God speaks to his children –whether in dreams or the ‘still small voice’ or through Scripture but the Angel Gabriel’s visit was something else altogether.

When God speaks to one there is no doubt in the listener; it is not a vague ‘did that really happen’ kind of experience. I wonder what Mary did? I suspect this was the kind of family where she could go and have a quiet word with her Mother and together perhaps they would have talked to her Father about going to visit Cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps they had already heard that something strange was happening there too? News of Zechariah’s strange vision and his dumbness must have circulated to Galilee. So in their perplexity why not visit Elizabeth and find out more. How reassuring that God told her about Elizabeth’s pregnancy in old age- a further confirmation that God really was about to do something rather wonderful involving Mary.

She would not have made the journey alone-if her parents couldn’t go surely some of the extended family had business in Jerusalem or were ready to go visiting with her.

Mary-not an unmarried mother??

Mary is so often referred to as an unmarried mother and I wonder why. Is it a convention that suits us- emphasising Jesus’ lowly background?

Luke tells us she was contracted in marriage to Joseph a descendant of King David. The marriage contract had been signed; she was his wife and if he died she would be treated as a widow. As in many cultures there was then an interval before the Bridegroom came to collect the Bride with much rejoicing. Such an interval would allow both families time to prepare for the new home and family. The Bridegroom’s family to make sure there was a room or house furnished ready for the husband to bring his wife. The Bride’s family would be gathering the dowry and belongings for homemaking and both families preparing the couple for their new responsibilities according to custom. But they were legally married and if in the same locality it was not unknown for them to have consummated the marriage before they formally set up home together. Dr Bill Domeris wrote that once the first stage of the marriage contract had been completed ‘in Galilee the marriage could then be sexually consummated, but in Judea this was not so.’ ( Domeris, W. 1987 Matthew a contextual approach to Bible Study).

So, when Mary became pregnant there was no public disgrace; the only one who was certain he was not the father of Mary’s baby was Joseph himself. There is nothing in Scripture to suggest that Jesus was thought to be a bastard, or illegitimate in our terms. By the time the baby was due the marriage arrangement had been completed and they went to Bethlehem together.

And what great timing! Mary was not alone or disgraced yet her baby was arriving before she and Joseph had started their own family. And Joseph too had his revelation from God and the reassurance that God was at the centre and protecting his little family!