Pregnant

“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.  And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” - Luke 1:41-42

“People always say that pregnant women have a glow. And I say it’s because you’re sweating to death.”

– Jessica Simpson

During Advent, I often wonder about Mary’s pregnancy.  Creator God - transcendent, sovereign over all things - lovingly planted as a seed by the Holy Spirit in the fertile soil of her womb.  Did she, green of face, ask Joseph to please take that fish back to the market?  Did her ankles swell to the size of her knees as she spun wool to make clothes for Baby Jesus?  Did she, sweating and tossing at night, feel her bladder stomped on like grapes by his little toes?

A woman sacrifices her body, experiencing pain and discomfort for the sake of another.  She offers perfect hospitality, invites a person to dwell within her, to use her resources as they will.

One woman, in pride, took into her body a cursed fruit that would destroy generations to come.  One woman, in humility, received into her body a blessed fruit that would redeem forever those who would also humble themselves to receive him.

He would sacrifice himself for our sake.  Invites us to abide in him, to take in all he is and has.  So that we could be reborn, have new life.  No longer carrying the rotten fruit of sin and death, but the fruit of the Spirit - God himself in us.

Mary, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, endured a patient, uncomfortable, self-giving, hopeful, joy-filled, love-drenched carrying of the fruit of her womb.  May we too receive Jesus into our very beings, knowing that in the glow of our sweat, his blessed fruit grows within us, bringing the fragrance and delight of his Kingdom into the world.

Lectio Divina

Read and meditate on Luke 1:46-55 and John 3:1-8.

Commit into your heart 1 Peter 1:3.

Karen Schaffer is the pastor of faith formation at The Tapestry Richmond
Photo by Andrew Seaman