Heh. Made ya look.
Actually, I'm talking about the scandal in today's lessons for the fourth and final Sunday of Advent.
- God's power unleashed in some podunk town instead of an impressive capitol.
God's plan wrapped up in a teenage girl instead of an action hero.
God's favor found when we say "Yes" to his gift instead of "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
The scandal of everything upside down: the mighty knocked off their thrones and the meek lifted up.
The scandal of all history turning on one child's birth, short life, humiliating death and empty tomb.
The scandal of one particular name to save the whole cosmos.
Oh yeah. The church got scandal.
2 comments:
I asked brother Stanislaus Maudlin from Blue Cloud Abbey one day when I was in my early 20's: "What is with the Roman Catholic fascination with Mary?". He replied with three short words: "She said yes".
I still do not understand bathtubs cut in half to create shrines to plastic light-up virgin Mary statues, but I will never forget that short lesson from Brother Maudlin.
Scott - it is always humbling for preachers when someone makes the point in just a phrase or even just a word. Your points are great - Mary is made great ("magnified") because she magnified God with a simple "Yes." Yet I share your befuddlement at the devotions that encrust her with kitsch and don't always magnify the Lord as she did.
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