Has anyone else been watching The Nativity? I just watched the first two episodes on iPlayer (marvellous invention, that). It is so good. So much so that I just gasped out loud at one bit (even though I know this story like I know my own name, isn't that ridiculous?!)
But I think what I love the most is that it's making the story real again to me in a way it often isn't. We hear these Bible verses so often and know these characters so well that it is so easy to forget that they were ordinary people whose lives were turned upside down.
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in my Savior...for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation...He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful..."
I have been told of it, being a television-less human I was only vaguely aware. I may well watch it on iplayer.
ReplyDeleteI marvel at the magnificat.Thinking of Mary's circumstance, how she praised, said yes with a cost we can only begin to understand. Not married,risking her reputation, her relationship, future happiness to say yes to God. Possibly wondering, was it really real?
&it's a battle cry for the poor too. The notions of the jewish messiah and of what it means to rule to be a King is turned upside down. And a rural girl, she sees this and understands, putting the wise to shame. Turning everything upside down.
&it amazes me that Mary could have said 'no.'
This, and the phrase 'but Mary pondered all these things in her heart', make me wonder so much about Mary and what life was like for her. How an ordinary girl held a God dependent on her.