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25/03/2017
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Revd Prebendary Edward Mason, Rector of Bath Abbey.
Last on
Sat 25 Mar 2017
05:43
91热爆 Radio 4
Saturday March 25th
Good morning.
It鈥檚 March 25th and, if we thought we were safely a long way from the run-in to Christmas, we might have to think again!
Today the Christian Church celebrates the day when Mary the mother of Jesus was visited by an angel to tell her that she would conceive and bear a son. 聽It鈥檚 now a biological nine months to Christmas!
It鈥檚 also a happy coincidence that this holy day 鈥� The Annunciation - falls on the Saturday when fathers up and down the country have that sinking feeling. 聽Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday so dads will be pulled eagerly to the shops by excited children, cards must be cut, glued, and written, flowers bought and menus prepared. 聽
But, for all the excitement and industry, tomorrow can be painful for many 鈥� for those who yearn to be mothers and are bitterly disappointed, and others for whom the remembrance of mum isn鈥檛 happy.
Both the joy and pain are contained in Mary鈥檚 story. 聽She is excited beyond measure and, in her song known as the Magnificat, she instinctively recognizes that this holy birth is going to change the world 鈥� the lowest will be lifted up, the proud and powerful humbled, the hungry fed. 聽But today鈥檚 scripture also refers to a sword piercing Mary鈥檚 soul as she will watch Jesus, the Son she is to bear, surrender himself in love for the world. 聽
All that was long ago, in Palestine, on an ordinary day, as today might be for us. 聽Mary鈥檚 story isn鈥檛 so much about motherhood as what can happen when a young woman in the ordinary of the day says 鈥淵es鈥� to God. 聽
Holy Spirit of God, help me, like Mary, to be alert to your voice in the joy and difficulty of this day and to risk trusting in your loving purposes. 聽Amen.
It鈥檚 March 25th and, if we thought we were safely a long way from the run-in to Christmas, we might have to think again!
Today the Christian Church celebrates the day when Mary the mother of Jesus was visited by an angel to tell her that she would conceive and bear a son. 聽It鈥檚 now a biological nine months to Christmas!
It鈥檚 also a happy coincidence that this holy day 鈥� The Annunciation - falls on the Saturday when fathers up and down the country have that sinking feeling. 聽Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday so dads will be pulled eagerly to the shops by excited children, cards must be cut, glued, and written, flowers bought and menus prepared. 聽
But, for all the excitement and industry, tomorrow can be painful for many 鈥� for those who yearn to be mothers and are bitterly disappointed, and others for whom the remembrance of mum isn鈥檛 happy.
Both the joy and pain are contained in Mary鈥檚 story. 聽She is excited beyond measure and, in her song known as the Magnificat, she instinctively recognizes that this holy birth is going to change the world 鈥� the lowest will be lifted up, the proud and powerful humbled, the hungry fed. 聽But today鈥檚 scripture also refers to a sword piercing Mary鈥檚 soul as she will watch Jesus, the Son she is to bear, surrender himself in love for the world. 聽
All that was long ago, in Palestine, on an ordinary day, as today might be for us. 聽Mary鈥檚 story isn鈥檛 so much about motherhood as what can happen when a young woman in the ordinary of the day says 鈥淵es鈥� to God. 聽
Holy Spirit of God, help me, like Mary, to be alert to your voice in the joy and difficulty of this day and to risk trusting in your loving purposes. 聽Amen.
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