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| Statue of Mary in the Dining Courtyard |
I’ve always been a fan of Mary, but after eight summers of
praying Mary’s song each day at Evening Prayer, eight summers of seeing Mary’s
outstretched hands beckon to me and eight summers of gazing on Mary in icon
form, a new respect and devotion is growing in me.
With apologies to my Catholic friends, I’m not sure that
I’ll ever be able to say the words of “Hail Mary” without my eyes rolling. My
Lutheran conviction that I don’t need anyone to intercede on my behalf is too
strong. And yet, Mary’s “yes” to God’s call and her song of praise to God’s mighty
deeds each day becomes a more powerful word of grace in my life.
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| Icon of Mary and Jesus in Chapel |
I acclaim the
greatness of the Lord,
I delight in God my
savior,
who regarded my humble
state.
Truly from this day on
all ages will call me
blest.
For God, wonderful in
power,
has used that strength
for me.
Holy the name of the
Lord!
whose mercy embraces
the faithful,
one generation to the
next.
The mighty arm of God
scatters the proud in
their conceit,
pulls tyrants from
their thrones,
and raises up the
humble.
The Lord fills the
starving
and lets the rich go
hungry.
God rescues lowly
Israel,
recalling the promise
of mercy,
the promise made to
our ancestors,
to Abraham’s heirs for
ever.
In that moment I was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears flowed
from my eyes. Mary’s song give voice to the faith that God is rescuing us even
now though we cannot always see how and calling
people like Mary, or Romero, or even me, to make God’s mercy and justice
known.
In this world we live in where environmental destruction
continues, innocent people are slaughtered and children starve, Mary’s song
convicts me even as it calls me to add my “yes” – in words and deeds – to hers.
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