Blessed is She

December 21, today, is the Feast Day of St. Thomas. We remembered him in the Thursday service this past week. Technically, we aren’t allowed to celebrate St. Thomas’ Day today, anyway. The Fourth Sunday of Advent is more important and takes precedence. But it’s interesting to hold the two days side by side: St. Thomas’ Day and the Fourth Sunday of Advent, which always has as its focus young Mary of Galilee.

St. Thomas, the apostle, is doubting Thomas, of course. The post-resurrection story in which he appears is well known. After Jesus' death and resurrection, he appeared to the disciples who were fearfully cloistered in a locked room. Thomas was not there, and when he was told later about the event, he refused to believe until he himself had seen the risen Jesus. Lesser Feasts and Fasts has this to say about Thomas:

"After Christ’s resurrection, Thomas would not accept the account of the other apostles and the women, until Jesus appeared before him, showing him his wounds. This drew from [Thomas] the first explicit acknowledgment of Christ’s Godhead, ‘My Lord and my God!’

"The expression ‘Doubting Thomas,’ which has become established in English usage, is not entirely fair to Thomas. He did not refuse belief: he wanted to believe, but did not dare, without further evidence. Because of his goodwill, Jesus gave him a sign.

"Thomas’ honest questioning and doubt, and Jesus’ assuring response to him have given many modern Christians courage to persist in faith, even when they are still doubting and questioning."

We might almost feel sorry for Thomas. He gets a bum rap as the great doubter among the disciples. His feast day gets bumped today by the Fourth Sunday in Advent. The other time his story appears in the lectionary is the Sunday after Easter, a day notorious for low church attendance. Yet he retains that one really remarkable claim to fame. His proclamation, Lesser Feasts and Fasts reminds us, is the first explicit expression of Christ’s Godhead. Before then, the disciples have certainly found Jesus’ words to convey the Word of God; Peter has confessed him as the promised Messiah; but it is Thomas who first explicitly knows Jesus as God.

Or is it?

There’s a marvelous new hymn in the hymnal. It’s not a traditional hymn, but more of a Joni Mitchell sort of ballad. I wish I could sing it for you, but I’m not Joni Mitchell. It is simple, but beautiful. It begins like this: "The first one ever, oh, ever to know of the birth of Jesus, was the Maid Mary, was Mary the Maid of Galilee, and blessed is she, is she who believes. Oh, blessed is she who believes in the Lord, oh, blessed is she who believes. She was Mary the Maid of Galilee, and blessed is she, is she who believes."

This Fourth Sunday of Advent is Mary’s day. Some years on this Sunday, we hear the story of the annunciation, of how the great angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her that her son will be holy and will be called the Son of God. In fulfillment of prophecy he shall be Emmanuel, which means God with us. God with us. And, as Elizabeth says in this morning’s gospel reading, "blessed is she who believes."

Holy Scripture may not record her saying the words, but surely the first one ever to know and acknowledge Jesus’ Godhead was Mary, the Maid from Galilee. Surely, the first to believe that Jesus was "the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God…" Surely, the first to believe was Mary.

Thomas and Mary. Thomas, who wanted to believe, but did not dare, and Mary, who seems never to have hesitated in her belief… Thomas, who slowly, stubbornly came to recognize God’s presence in Jesus… Mary, who knew from the start that the kicking in her womb was God’s own life. We remember both of these saints today. Thomas and Mary.

I imagine most of us, even those of us who are women, identify more with Thomas. Thomas, who did not find it easy to believe, who wanted to believe, but did not dare. And it’s important to remember that Saint Thomas is remembered as an saint and apostle. We should not put him down.  Legend has it that he carried the Gospel of Christ to the Indian subcontinent. He did not let his doubt, his struggle, stop him from following and proclaiming Christ. Those of us who do not always dare to believe would do well to emulate Thomas. Even when he doubted, he always sought belief, and his dedication to Christ was unswerving.

But we also have before us this morning another model. Mary, the maid from Galilee. Where Thomas demands that God’s presence be proven, Mary seems to expect God to be present unless proven otherwise. Holy Scripture gives to Mary the magnificent words of the Magnificat. "My soul magnifies the Lord." But I can imagine a more modern day Mary just saying "Why not?" You shall bear a holy child who shall be called the Son of God, Gabriel says to her. Yes. Why not, she might reply. Not with flip indifference, but with simple sincerity. Why not? Is there really any reason why a maid from Galilee should not be the bearer of Emmanuel? No. There is no reason to doubt that it could be true. "Let it be with me according to your word," she says to Gabriel. Why not?

And the child will come from Bethlehem, says the prophet Micah. Bethlehem… least of the clans of Judah. Why not?

And Elizabeth, old beyond the years of bearing children, is also pregnant with a spirited child who will be John the Baptist. Why not? Elizabeth’s child, though still in the womb, leaps for joy when he recognizes the presence of his Savior yet to be born of Mary. Why not?

Mary. We really know nothing of her except that she was young. But listen to what she says.

"My soul magnifies the Lord." The soul of a simple young girl from a small town in the middle of nowhere proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Why not?

"My spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Why not?

"The mighty One has done great things for me." Of course. Why wouldn’t He?

"Blessed is she who believes," Elizabeth says of Mary. Blessed are you, Mary. Yes. Why not? There is no reason to doubt. Mary is blessed.

This Fourth Sunday of Advent is Mary’s day. Let us carry with us from this day the image of a young maid who did not doubt, but believed. And, let us pray that we, like her… We, too, may find God’s presence in our lives as close to us as a child in the womb. Why not? We, too, may be bearers of Emmanuel, Son of the Most High, into the world around us. Why not? Our voices may proclaim the greatness of the Lord. We may receive his great gifts and know the strength of his arm in our daily lives. Why not? Maybe an angel will call upon us and empower us for our own special role in God’s kingdom. Why not?

"Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of that which was spoken to her by the Lord." Blessed is she.

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