Women with 2020 Vision by Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner and

Author:Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner and [and, Jeanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-07T00:00:00+00:00

Mary, Mother of God, and Space to Appear

An example can be found in the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Through Mary, in the birth of her son Jesus, salvation is given to many others because she is first given the power to decide whether to carry a child out of wedlock. She exercises this power. Looking closely at the infancy narrative in the Gospel of Luke as interpreted by Hak C. Kim, we will see how God, through the angel Gabriel’s visit with Mary, creates the conditions for the space of appearance where Mary’s dignity is respected, her agency is valued, and she is free to exercise the power to choose.[28]

Mary is an ordinary young woman living in a patriarchal culture in the region of Palestine and engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. She is neither wealthy nor powerful. Rather, she describes herself as among the lowest of God’s maidservants (Luke 1:48 NRSV). She is from Nazareth in Galilee, a remote and insignificant city far from privilege and power. Mary is one of two persons in Luke’s Gospel visited by Gabriel, an angel of the Lord. He first visits Zechariah, a priest in the order of Aaron, to announce that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son in her advanced age. An undisclosed amount of time later, Gabriel visits Mary and proceeds to tell of “God’s universal plan of salvation at Luke 1:30–33.”[29] Mary is confused by this statement. The angel, maybe sensing her fear, says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (1:30). Kim explains that as Gabriel continues to relay God’s message, a dialogue takes place between him and Mary.[30] Mary is puzzled and asks, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (1:34). Gabriel explains how God will fulfill God’s plan (1:35) and adds, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37).

Kim compares Gabriel’s approach to Zechariah and to Mary.[31] While the angel announces the birth of John to Zechariah—not Elizabeth—Mary’s full presence is acknowledged by Gabriel’s visit to her directly. Gabriel respects Mary’s dignity and awaits her response. Mary uses her own agency and accepts God’s proposition by replying, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (1:38). In other words, conditions were created to give Mary, a vulnerable woman and a lowly maidservant of God, space to “appear,” to come into her full presence with full dignity, and empowering her to use her full agency to choose. Kim contrasts this with Gabriel’s approach to Zechariah: Not only does Mary have her own voice, but God does not force her to do anything or simply inform her of what will happen. Rather, God invites her to participate in the decision-making process regarding the coming of Jesus.[32] In implementing God’s plan to save God’s people, God respects Mary’s dignity and her right to choose what will happen to her body. Then, when Mary has given her acceptance, the angel leaves her (1:38).

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