Practicing Resurrection - Glorious Impossibles
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David...And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1. 26 - 38
On this day, we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation - Gabriel's announcement to young Mary that she will bear God's son because she is "highly favored by God." And not only that, he says, her elderly cousin Elizabeth whose womb has been barren forever is also going to bear a son. "For nothing will be impossible with God." (ps. this means it is 9 months until Christmas!)
It seems to me God has been preparing us to understand resurrection since the beginning of time not only with stories of glorious impossibles like these two but even with the natural cycles of creation. For example the dead frozen soil that produces the beautiful bounty of spring. Here in Northeast Florida we have a fern that grows on trees aptly named Resurrection Fern because without rain it appears to be completely dead. But with a good rain, a sort of baptism, it flourishes and embellishes the branches of our beloved oaks.
One might also consider the little resurrections in our lives when discord melts and enemies become friends or when darkness dissipates with the arrival of light whether in the actions or words of strangers.
In this season of Resurrection, let us watch closes for the places God works in what we consider to be impossible ways. Let us also listen for God's call to respond as Mary did with the words, "Here am I the servant of the Lord." There are glorious impossibles all around us if we just look carefully. Be like Resurrection Fern, and let baptismal moments bring you and others back to life, to peace, to love. It's a fine way to practice resurrection.
