 A
Journey to Birth
by Helen Regan
In
the next few weeks we follow Mary’s journey
of pregnant with Jesus. In the first stage the foetus,
being small, experiences no boundaries of space or
time. It might be described as bliss, the mother and
baby being one.
This image reminds
me of the indigenous people of this land. They had
the experience of being a free people in their land
before the invasion; they were at one with Mother
Earth and certainly their human mother. Sadly, we
are reminded of the stolen children and the damaged
environment.
Today we leave this
place, praying in hope that there will be a turn around
of hearts in this country as the invasion still continues
– and, also that our world will turn away from the
destruction of war in any shape or size as we hope
in the Spirit of Life, deep within, growing to freedom.
We are following
Mary’s pregnancy in this time before Christmas. Last
week we acknowledged the bliss of the foetus in first
stage of pregnancy.
This wee the bliss
has changed as the foetus grows. There is less room
as the walls of the uterus confine the small baby
who then experiences the subsequent pressure and so
does the mother. These images can be applied to the
social situation in our country at this moment and
worldwide. We are reminded of the pressure, sometimes
humanly unbearable, from the systems that take more
power than is theirs – the political, religious, cultural
and corporate world.
We especially think
of the poor, Aboriginal people, women and children,
Iraq and its neighbouring lands; those suffering through
the ‘so called’ war on terror.
In the gospel we are given a sign of hope from the
preaching of John the Baptist and we look forward
to this new life in Jesus as the pressure moves us
to search and, at the same time to wait with trust,
knowing the truth in this promise of life.
As we continue to
follow Mary’s pregnancy with the baby Jesus we are
nearing the end of the journey. Towards the end of
a woman’s pregnancy, the pressure increases for the
baby, a crushing suffocating feeling and so we think
of those experiencing unimaginable suffering.
At the start of pregnancy
the mother may have had thoughts of hopes, dreams,
wonder and beauty. Now she might find herself tiring
more easily; any activity becomes a much greater effort;
she may have a sore back and feet.
In times of pressure
we need to draw from that wild streak we are all born
with and when it has been crushed we can help each
other find it again.
Wild
Mary
Whatever
happened to Wild Mary, to that spirited village woman,
full of life, expectancy,
who broke the chains and shattered the moulds
that tried to tame and angel her?
Vibrant young woman,
life taught her a thing or two. So much like her mother
and grandmother.
Strong breed! Loved storytellers of family epics and
the everyday.
Well known at the markets
and about town for their warmth, shrewd business sense
and strong family ties. Always there when needed,
thrusters, unflinching when what was needed came clear.
O how she laughed at
the crazy things that happened about the house.
Made time for quiet in her full days. Talked long
with Joseph about their lives, the budget,
their hopes, concerns, dreams for their son
and how he was growing up so fast.
Petrified she was of
snakes and heights and got so angry when she saw justice
denied
or her fellow folk put down as second rate. Hated
olives, lambs liver and being ripped off.
Loved char-grilled fish fresh from Galilee.
Jesus her son no doubt.
That same wild streak ran through him.
Liz’s son the same. Real passion for what they were
on about.
Nothing dilute in their veins. Too strong for the
establishment of the day.
Yes her spirit lives
on among us, bold, breaking out, overflowing,
too at one with Life to die – her heart with the hurting
and being with the afraid;
by the cross of those being crucified and cradling
those in pain;
standing her ground amid the violence of evil’s disarray;
taking full on those who dare try keep her in her
place; unflinching in her bold defiance
of those who conspire to perpetrate submission or
threaten love’s advance.
We need but call out
confidently – Mary! Mary! for her spirit to empower
ours.
Oh Yes! It’s a passionate spirit, the spirit of Mary
that breaks the chains and shatters the moulds
that try to stifle the full reality of her humanity!
by Noel Davis (with permission)
This
week we come to last stage of Mary’s pregnancy.
Some years ago the concept of waiting came to me.
The belief in our society sometimes is that waiting
is an emptiness – nothingness – a waste of time. I
felt strongly about this and it wouldn’t leave me
alone till I put them on to paper which developed
into something more. I likened the concept of waiting
to an ocean wave, giving these words the title “The
Wave” The wave is also about arrival, rightful place
and ownership – reminding me of Aboriginal Australia
and community groups such as our own here in Redfern
and the truth. It is about cycles and returning.
The Wave
And the wave rolled
so slowly; to go with the waiting
But not just the waiting or the empty waiting but
a full waiting.
A waiting, full of potential – a power surging underneath;
a feeling of expectation, of knowing and of Greatness;
a surge forcing its way over the ocean with strength,
beyond comprehension but with such smoothness; and
the tension rises; pulse pounding; the power nearing
its explosion and finally with a great crash; the
waiting arrives….
To a full on celebration.
As the Knowing becomes a reality.
The wave hits the sand hard
And is a wave no more
But water, splashing and throwing itself onto its
beach,
Its rightful owner
With 100% certainty of its right to this place
And its right to spread itself recklessly how it
pleases.
With absolutely no doubt.
So no-one could ever question this right And then
just as gently moves over the yellow fine sand.
Feeling its home every moment of the way .
“ Oh how beautiful to be alive”
And then it creeps at first; to be drawn and pulled
back from whence it came.
To be taken back like being hauled. Just as surely
as it arrived it enters into its return fully
With out hesitation.
Falling back into the depths of the ocean where
it regains, renews and will be reborn
Where it will enter into the roots of the power
and begin its surge once more.
Helen Regan
Christmas Night.
She heaves;
She groans; … She pushes on and on
He is squeezed and pushed….there is incredible pressure
and… New Life bursts forward
There is relief
Spirit has become Flesh
Entering Mother Earth……From dreams to dream….from
love to love
To Live!! |
