As we are reading through the events we celebrate at Christmas, I am struck by the humanness of those involved…  and with that humanness, the very real fragility of their discipleship.  We saw last week Zechariah’s unbelief and rebuke; and his spiritual growth.  And we’ve seen Elizabeth, herself no spiritual slouch (1:6), remaining in seclusion whilst she took 5 months to re-imagine her life as she responds to God’s call to a different kind of discipleship than she had grown accustomed to.  Having shaped her life around her pain and disappointment she needs time to process and adjust, and to emotionally commit to her unexpected role.  Both are filled with the Spirit, both prophecy and both are folded into the unfolding of God’s purposes.

And John, who we are perhaps used to lionizing, and who here leaps for joy in the presence of His Lord and Saviour – even in utero.  Yet he spends a lifetime under the strictures of a Nazirite vow, isolated in the wilderness, as the Lord patiently prepares him for his ministry and martyrdom.   

Which, in this week’s reading, leaves only Mary amongst the mere humans mentioned.  Christ of course appears, hidden in Mary’s womb…  but we can’t really describe Him as ‘mere’ human.  Mary too is this beautiful combination of the faith-filled and the fragile.  With incredible courage and humility, she has bowed her head: I am the Lord’s servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled’.  She steps into a life of slander and rejection, suffering and sorrow (see Lk.2:35).  Yet she hurries to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home, craving the support, encouragement and affirmation only they can provide.  Imagine the relief as she – and the Child she bears – are called ‘Blessed’.  After all that has been said about the her… and the Child she bears.

Christians are an amazing blend of dust and glory.  When lifted by the Spirit into the purposes of God we are capable of incredible acts of faith and obedience.  Yet we remain so very human, redeemed sinners at best.  We need time, rebuke, encouragement, affirmation, preparation.  I wonder if remembering this might help avoid much of the pain we endure through our involvement in Church life.  We can easily develop unreasonable and unrealistic expectations of our brothers and sisters in Christ…  and of ourselves.  Yet we remain an intermingling of dust and glory.  We are redeemed, but redeemed sinners, and we do well to extend the same tender patience we see in God’s dealing with us.

Questions:

How much should we expect, and expect others, to grow as Christians and to behave in ways consistently shaped by God’s call on our lives?

Have you been guilty of having too high expectations of other Christians… and been hurt when they didn’t meet those expectations?

How can we have ‘realistic’ expectations of others and ourselves without condoning sinful behavior, or perpetual spiritual immaturity?

How can we develop a culture of patience and tenderness as we wait for people to grow as Christians, and to respond to God’s call on their lives?  How would we have to change the way we engage with MIE to contribute to that culture?

What encouragement can Zechariah and Elizabeth give Mary that no-one else can?

I’m always impressed by Elizabeth’s humility.  She has so much I’m sure she wants to tell of God’s dealing with her, and yet she puts that aside to celebrate first Mary’s experience.  How can we learn to imitate that kind of humility?

Read Lk.1:42-45.  How can we honour Mary’s place in God’s bringing His Son into the human race, without attributing her a place in our worship that would be inappropriate?  What do you make of other traditions within the Church praying to and venerating her?

Is Mary ‘blessed’ in a way that puts her in a different category to other Christians?

Both the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church celebrate the uniqueness of Mary’s worship and love for Jesus as His mother and as the theotokos (God-bearer).  Should we reflect something of that in our liturgy and preaching?

Based on Elizabeth’s song, how much of the mystery of the Incarnation do you think Zechariah and Elisabeth understood? 

What is your experience of being hospitable?  Have a look at passages such as Heb.3:1-3, or I Peter 4:9.  How can this become a more significant place in your discipleship?