So far, the most important thing I have read about this passage comes from a commentary called The New Interpreter's Bible. It says, "[Gabriel's] annunciation would not have been complete without Mary's trusting, obedient, response." (Vol. IX, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995, page 52)
We ask, "Oh why Lord, why don't you erase all of the wrong doing and all of the pain and all of the injustice in this world? Why is there disease? Why are children abused? How can you allow this to happen?" (I say "we" because I doubt I am either the first or last to ask these questions.) There is a grain in our beings that wants God to force creation into submission to right the wrongs in creation. We may think it's obedience, but it's submission.
The Lord seeks a loving relationship with creation, and love by coercion is no love at all. Coerced love is the keystone to any abusive relationship, and that is an arch that will never stand, not on earth and certainly not in heaven.
Coerced love is not love at all. God doesn't want to force us into submission because that's not what a loving relationship is at all.
So Mary was obedient, but not submissive. How's that for a place to start?
No comments:
Post a Comment