VICAR'S LETTER
17
Sundon Road
Streatley
December, 2005
Dear
All
We have now entered the season of Advent. At this time of year, running lip to Christmas, attention focuses on the Virgin Mary. She is a figure who, by her conduct in the months before Christ's birth, defines what being a church-member is all about.
Mary defines it first by her submission. She places herself at God's disposal. When the Angel comes to tell her that she has been chosen to be the mother of God's son, after a moment of incredulity and hesitation; "How can this be, seeing that I am still a virgin?" - she accepts the role that has been assigned to her. '`I am the Lord's servant. As you have spoken, so be it."
Mary also defines what being a church-member is all about by the hope that inspires her. She submits to God's will for her in order to play her part in his work of building a better world. This hope emerges when she goes to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth. On that occasion Mary looks forward to that realisation of a better world that her obedience will have helped to bring into being. It is a world in which God will have "scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts," will have "put down the mighty from their seats and exalted the humble and meek," and will have "filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich empty away."
Mary's Submission and Mary's hopes define what being a church-member is all about. It is about submission. It is about saying to God "Here am 1, Lord" and inviting him to use all that we are for his purposes. It is also about the hope that inspires that submission. It is about the hope that the gifts we offer can contribute to his purpose of building a better world. The decision to make such a submission and to adopt such a hope as the lodestar of our own life and actions may be a private contract between ourselves and God or it may be publicly ratified in Confirmation, Licensing, or Ordination. In whatever way it is made, however, it is by the making of this submission and by the adoption of this hope that we qualify ourselves to be members of God's church.
The Bible story offers several examples of people who made this decision and adopted this hope. There is the boy, Samuel, saying, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” There is the prophet, Isaiah, awestruck by a vision of God in the Temple, saying, in response to God's call for someone to be his prophet in Israel: "Here am I, Lord; send me.” And there is Mary, saying, "I am the Lord's servant. As you have spoken, so be it.” It is in this proud tradition that we aspire, however unworthily, to stand.
All best wishes,
and a very happy Christmas when it comes,
Roger