Thinking on the Blessed THEOTOKOS

For Robert Stewart

As we enter Advent, we will meditate on the mystery of our Lord Jesus' birth from the blessed virgin Mary. During the 3rd and 4th centuries when the doctrine of the Holy Trinity was coming to its fullness, it became an element of common devotion for some orthodox Christians to call Mary "theotokos" - Greek for "God bearer" or "one who gives birth to God". They were more than happy to call Mary "mother of God" because they believed that the Lord Jesus Christ was the divine son of God in our flesh; the blessed virgin not only bore the savior of the world, she bore divinity in humanity.

This week I came upon an interesting commentary by John Piper (emphasis mine):

“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” a woman cried out to Jesus. And he turned and said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27). The mother of God is the obedient Christian—married or single! Take a deep breath and reorder your world. (By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org)

I do not want to offend my fellow Christians who have a high esteem of the blessed virgin, for I think they are right in calling her blessed. (See Mary's Song, more traditionally known in the west as Magnificat, esp. @ Luke 1:48. In an advent sermon last year, Dr. Steve Lennox said he considered it the obligation of all Christians to call the virgin Mary blessed.) However, it seems to me that if we are to take Jesus seriously, the virgin mary is no more blessed than anyone who obeys Jesus - "those who hear the word of God and keep it." To rephrase, those who keep God's message from the lips and life of Christ are just as, or perhaps even more blessed than the virgin Mary (noting Jesus' use of the word "rather").

It would be common for many of us to be sanctimoniously sentimental in our reverance for Jesus' nativity this Christmas. But if our devotion has nice thoughts for the holy family and no thought for Christ's teachings, we are of all people most to be pitied: outside of blessedness, according to Jesus. In Luke 11:27 Jesus tells us that he did not come so that his birth would be remembered fondly once a year, but so that we would obey his teaching and be born from above. Jesus cannot save us if we will not obey God's word through him. If we want the blessedness of Christmas to last year round, the solution is to obey Jesus always.

God's word to Mary was that she, a virgin, would bear the son of the most high God, who would receive an eternal kingdom. She assented, saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said," and so was blessed. When we kiss the feet of that same son Jesus, and agree to serve him by obeying his word, we will be blessed as well. "The mother of God is the obedient Christian." Or, the obedient Christian is more blessed than the mother of God.

So perhaps this Christmas, after (or before) we read the nativity story from Luke's gospel, we would not count ourselves blessed until we read and seek obedience to the words of Jesus that fill the rest of the gospel and bring us the salvation that was so enigmatically lauded by angelic hosts two milennia ago in a town called Bethlehem.

"Midnight Station" (a haiku)

Hair, stand on end o'er
chilled flesh in fluorescent plight,
awaiting nigh flight.

(Copyright Scott Hendricks 2006)

Powerlessness and Pedestrianism

This summer while at home in Kalamazoo, MI, I tried to avoid driving a car as often as possible. For me this meant that I rode my bike quite a bit, and walked on several occasions. Why?

There are several advantages to walking or biking:
1) You don't pollute your local air with exhaust from an automobile that runs on gasoline.
2) The exercise is excellent overall for your health.
3) You are more in touch with your surroundings. You take better notice of whatever you pass and get a sense that "this is your town," instead of just the insignificant route to your destination.
4) You breathe fresh (well, sometimes) air.
5) You realize that your legs are good for something, and very useful!

One excursion this summer, however, proved to be very enlightening for me.

I had an eye appointment 2.4 miles from my house, and I decided to take the bus. It was necessary to walk a short distance from my house to the bus stop at which I boarded, and from the bus stop at which I got off to the eye doctor's office. The majority of my route was along the busiest, most commercial road in Kalamazoo and Portage (Westnedge Avenue). Thus, I walked beside 4 lanes of 35mph traffic - the first reminder of my powerlessness. Almost everybody else on the road was going 31mph faster than I, so they would get to their destinations sooner than I. If one of them for any reason had turned the wheel a bit too far in my direction, I would have been toast; they had more momentum than I.

The bus stop was farther from my house than I had imagined, so once I realized this I hussled to make it their on time. Second reminder of my powerlessness - I could miss the bus, and (if there were not a drivable vehicle in my nearby driveway) easily be late for my appointment.

As I neared my destination, and especially as I got off the bus, it occured to me how far away I was from home (in terms of both distance and time). [Okay, in reality 2.4 miles is not that far; but I didn't know the distance at the time (it felt like 4 miles), and the scenery (commercial highway) was very different from that of my neighborhood.] What if something bad happened to me? What if (for some reason) I "needed" to get home immediately? My third reminder of powerlessness - there was no "immediately." I could not drive myself anywhere quickly if desired or necessary. Since I had a cell phone with me, I suppose I could have called home if I had to. But what if I were without a phone? I would just have to wait for the bus to come, or start walking homeward.

As I rode the bus, I recognized none of my fellow passengers, and tried to delight in watching them interact with one another. But a twisted voice within me asked, "Why are you riding the bus? You don't have to. You can afford to drive a car; you deserve to." I tried to reason against this voice: "No, I cannot afford to drive a car, and driving a car does not make me a better human being. As an asset it only gets me places farther and faster, carrying more, making my life easier and more comfortable. But it does not make my life any richer. As a liability it only costs me bundles of money, puts me at a greater risk of participation in an auto accident, increases my contribution to local pollution, and fosters a false sense of power, self-confidence, wealth and freedom." And so in a fourth and final sense I realized that my current inability to afford a car of my own gave me a sense of powerlessness.

My point is this: I wonder if always driving an automobile to get to our destinations does not give us unnecessary power, and rob us of a humble sense of our own humanity. When we walk, we cannot traverse great distances in a short amount of time; we cannot move lots of people or weight at the press of a pedal and at the cost of clean air; we cannot keep ourselves insulated from the world around us to be ignored. Rather, when we walk we are reminded of what it is to be without power and advantage; we are reminded of one way in which most humans are alike - that God has given us two legs with which to walk, to go only so fast, and to take up only so much space on this earth for so little time.

I don't hate automobiles - to a certain extent they are necessary and helpful. But as Americans we will consume oil until it runs out, and we have filled our atmosphere with more carbon dioxide than ever before. We can get to more places faster, but we have forgotten how to enjoy the outdoors, our communities, a walk around the neighborhood, and our neighbors.

As for me, I'm waiting to be convinced that I need an automobile. As for you and me, let's be human and go for a walk.

Any thoughts?
- Have you ever felt powerless without an automobile or some other modern convenience?
- How does technology influence your life for good or bad?
- When was the last time you were reminded of your humanness?

Environmentally friendly link: A Thada

Friends,

If you are interested in things ecological, in reducing how much you negatively influence your environment,

I highly recommend these very practical suggestions from my good friend A. Thada.

It's raining today . . .

So avoid stepping on earthworms.

If I get a job with the university food services . . .

. . . I feel I am really going to love wiping off tables, picking up trash, and keeping the food court tidy - chairs, tables and . . . well, I guess that's all there is: chairs and tables; although there are also living trees with falling leaves, so maybe I'll be gathering those up too.

I'm serious.

. . . or maybe I'll just like it.

I'll keep you posted.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

I truly hope most of you enjoy just as much these posts with disconnected thoughts as long ones with elaborate meditations.

Life is boring, so I should try to invigorate it. I need to exercise, among other things.

Growing up is hard to do.

I will be applying for a part-time job this coming week: hopefully keeping the food court clean during dinner time - an appropriate job for someone who loves cleanliness and order and despises mess (although neither my mom nor my roommate would know this, judging by how I keep my room).

I am (for the most part) enjoying life without a cell phone. However, the down side is: since I rarely talk on the phone, I am no longer very good at it. I guess I need more practice. But talking face to face is much preferred.

I AM doing relatively BETTER in school this semester compared to last. Thank you so much to all of you who are praying for me; I appreciate your continued prayers as I continue to strive to improve my success.

Tonight I'm going to dinner with a jazz quartet in concert led by Ron Jones. It should be absolutely delightful. I'll be wearing my new suit for the first time.

Nothing really more to write, except: GET WELL, Chelby. We're sorry your sick. May God grant you strength, peace and wholeness.

Until later, Peace to you.