A Song of True Motherhood

Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Melinda Coles

 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.”

Our Advent days are circling down to these last two days, closer and closer to the birth, closer to Mary.  This passage in Luke is Mary’s song of praise to God, the Magnificat.  In humility and faith she bears the Christ.  I have been intrigued by a poem written by the 14^th century mystic Julian of Norwich, “A Song of True Motherhood.”*                         

God chose to be our mother in all things

     and so made the foundation of his work,

     most humbly and most pure, in the Virgin’s womb.

God, the perfect wisdom of all

     arrayed himself in this humble place.

Christ came  in our poor flesh

      to share a mother’s care.

Our mothers bear us for pain and for death;

      our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.

Christ carried us within him in love and travail,

      until the full time of his passion.

And when all was complete and he had carried us so for joy,

      still all this could not satisfy the power of his wonderful love.

All that we owe is redeemed in truly loving God,

      for the love of Christ works in us;

          Christ is the one whom we love.

Prayer:   O God our LORD,  make us rejoice this day at the coming of our Savior.  May we bear in humility and faith the blessings of Your love.  Amen.

*Canticle R, A Song of True Motherhood, Julian of Norwich, Enriching Our Worship 1, p.40.