On our fourth Sunday of Advent, traditionally the theme of love is celebrated. Melissa Spolar reminds us that we celebrate a love defined by mercy, justice and peace. The final voice to declare the truth of what is finally coming — the birth that would fulfill years of promise — was that of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Melissa talks about Mary’s bravery in incredible circumstances, her dedication to God, her words that would become an inspiration to many, and her eagerness and devotion to helping usher in the world changing kingdom of Jesus. These are things we can celebrate and learn from.

As Luke tells the story in Luke 2:1-7, the expectant Mary is setting out to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Mary has been greeted by the angel Gabriel, who has told her that she has favor with God, and will bear a son she will name Jesus. The angel explains that she will conceive through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, and that Elizabeth, her cousin, though past childbearing age is also pregnant — as nothing is impossible with God.

Melissa invites us to pause to consider what a huge moment this encounter was. We need to remember how serious it was to be an unwed mother. Deuteronomy called for someone engaged, who became pregnant by someone other than her betrothed, to be stoned. And Joseph would know that this child wasn’t his. What a whirlwind of awe.

Yet Mary seems composed, fearless. That is faith, and this is the Mary of our story. Our passage begins with Mary setting out to visit Elizabeth. Melissa envisions Mary’s eagerness to share this immense news. And as she greets Elizabeth, John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth’s womb. They are sharing in a moment of sheer joy. God is finally fulfilling a long-awaited promise to his people — anticipated for hundreds of years. People are waiting for a king, a judge, a military leader who would save them. Mary knows that this is about to happen, and is forming in her womb.

In this spirit-filled encounter, in Mary’s response, we are told the true nature of this God-incarnate Messiah that was finally coming. Her words are a praise and a prophecy of the subversive kingdom that would come from the saviour in her womb. Even in the midst of this overwhelming time, Mary’s response to being used by God, and getting a glimpse of the kingdom that Jesus would bring — is pure joy.

The words of the Magnificat, Mary’s prayer of response and praise, are similar to the words of Hannah, in 1st Samuel — who gave up the son she had prayed for. Her response too is praise. These two women were overcome with joy to know that God was at work in their lives — despite their difficult circumstances. Their joy was rooted in getting a glimpse of God’s kingdom.

This kingdom Jesus came to lead was an embodiment in the truest sense of love. It was not about victory, military redemption, or success in the ways that we think about a great leader — or that the Israelites expected. Instead, he was leader in defiant, subversive love.

Mary’s words were so powerful and subversive that they were banned during the British rule in India, in Guatemala in the 1980’s, and in Argentina in the 1970’s. In Argentina, women protested disappearances with posters of Mary’s words — and these were then outlawed.

The coming of a Messiah who doesn’t fit worldly expectations, who fills us with joy and invites us participate in this kingdom of love — are what we celebrate at Christmas.

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