Bible,  Christianity

Bursting with God-news

The Annunciation by Jack Mattingly

Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

“Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.” (Luke 1:28, The Message)

This afternoon I heard the song “Breath of Heaven” on the way home from the grocery store. It’s a song I’ve always assumed I liked, but today I realized: I don’t, particularly. It’s not really in keeping with the Scriptural account of Mary’s character in Luke 1. (I’m speaking from a Protestant point of view, by the way.)

In “Breath of Heaven,” Mary talks about “a world as cold as stone.” But in Luke 1, she speaks of God’s presence in the world — of his “mercy upon generation after generation of those who fear him,” and of how he “fills the hungry with good things.”

In the song, Mary says, “Must I walk this path alone?” She imagines God is having second thoughts about choosing her: “Do you wonder as you watch my face if a wiser one should have had my place?” But in Luke 1, she’s not alone. She and Elizabeth have the great gift of companionship in their high calling. And her sense of who God is is anything but distant and aloof: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave…”

In the song, Mary says, “Hold me together.” In Luke 1, she says, “The Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.” (And later, when Jesus goes to the cross, Mary is one of the few who has the fortitude to stand near him.)

It’s an idea we try over and over: projecting ourselves imaginatively into the Christmas story. Sometimes it enriches our faith and our depth of understanding. But in this case I think it alters the story, shrinking it down into a rather desolate, impoverished mindset.

Though sometimes (for me) The Message can have a similar effect of reducing Scripture to language that’s almost too pedestrian, I think in the case of Luke 1 it captures perfectly Mary’s spiritual exuberance and moral stamina:

And Mary said,

I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

8 Comments

  • Barbara H.

    I had never heard of that song, but I agree it doesn’t sound at all like Mary’s perspective. I agree about The Message, too – normally I don’t like how it expresses the Scripture.

  • DebD

    I’ve heard the song before but never gave it much thought. I appreciate that you’ve taken some time to look closely at its message. It’s good that you have taken the writer to task for his/her theology.

    In the Eastern tradition Mary wasn’t a surprise to God, as if He had been looking and looking for generations and then she just popped up out of nowhere. But, she was called (just like John or Abraham) and, well, prepared for for generations – as well as during her life. And yes, I so agree. The Holy Spirit came upon her and she carried the Incarnate God within her womb. She wasn’t alone…in fact she was closer to God than any human being had ever been to God since Adam.

    Also, I wanted to thank you for that painting. I saw it many, many years ago (on my husband’s and mine first date, in fact) at a gallery. I remember standing in front of the painting and being so taken with it. I’ve ALWAYS remembered it, but could never find it because I never noted the painter. I’ve been looking for years! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  • Polly

    Good thoughts. The passage from The Message is great. There has been a trend in recent years to look at the Story and focus on dirt and blood and rejection and loneliness. But I still think that the stable and the manger were not the dreadful thing we moderns think, unusual yes, humble of course, but lovely with the presence of God.

  • Amy @ Hope Is the Word

    I have nothing profound to add to your very astute thoughts other than to say that I always related to that song personally as a mother. I never thought much about it as being from Mary’s perspective. (I’m not sure what that says about me, but there it is.).

  • Carrie, Reading to Know

    Well, I’m with Amy. I really very much appreciated this post. This song (version by Amy Grant) has always been my favorite. I’ve identified with it as a mother. BUT! After reading through your thoughts (and leaving this post up on my computer to think about it some more) I think you are absolutely right and I’m so glad you pondered this song with us. It isn’t accurate. It’s emotionally pleasing but theologically unsound. (And I also rather confess to being sort of annoyed with you for ruining my favorite Christmas song! But the Bible also teaches us to forgive so . . . ;D

    I’m still stewing over this a bit, I confess, but….everything you say here is too true. So I begrudgingly thank you. (See how I like to hold on to MY likes?! Oh, the humanity!)

  • Janet

    :-)

    I remember accompanying a friend on the piano when she sang this song at the Christmas Eve service, way back when it first came out, and there was something about it I liked too. It’s strange (or humiliating) that it’s taken me this many years to really hear it. Makes me wonder how many other blind spots (and deaf spots) I may be operating with.