Today, we celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of Jesus. It is not a feast that has been part of Anglican Tradition, but has been introduced with the recent changes in the Prayer Book. Roman Catholics celebrate this feast as the Feast of the Assumption. This is based on the legend that Mary did not actually die, but passed from earth to heaven (in the same manner as Enoch and Elijah). There is no firm evidence of this, although it is a negative sense, arguing from the position of absence. There is neither a body or evidence of a place of death

Sadly, the Roman Catholic church has for the most part over emphasised Mary and so the typical response from protestants has been to reject her. Perhaps we ought to take a little time to put her into context, not focussing on the excesses of the legends but in the facts about this extraordinary young lady who in her own small way changed history.

Mary is a female figure in the male dominated church. God the father and Jesus the Son have a need of a female counter -part, and Mary could be that without corrupting the Trinity. There is no doubt that she was special - Theo-tokis is the theological term, that is God Bearer. But in many senses, the emphasis on her has seen her replace the traditional feminine deity in the traditional religions. She is also seen as more approachable than Jesus and influential, able to request anything from Jesus as after all as his mother he could not refuse her anything.

Significantly, this position stems from the mistaken assumption that God is unreachable. This in its own way is a denial of the incarnation, the coming of Jesus in Human Form. Although truly God, Jesus became one of us. (As we will sing in the offertory hymn). This means not that we need to approach God, but rather that he has approached us. Remember in the Garden, although Adam and Eve had sinned and were in hiding, God called out "Where are you?"

So if God is seeking us out, we have no need for Mary or anyone else to intercede on our behalf. If we find that God seems to be at arms length then the question is who moved. If this is your situation, then perhaps you are missing out on a close relationship with Jesus. At various times, as I preach, I will mention this, and if this is not your experience, then you may need to seek me out and we can talk about this.

So given the fact that the typical Catholic understanding of Mary as mediator and intercessor is not appropriate, "how then should we see Mary?"

Our protestant tradition which has all but ignored her is not right either. Think for a minute of the situation. Pregnancy for any fifteen year old is not an easy circumstance, but as one betrothed, and in a village culture, Mary risked everything when she agreed to bear the Lord. Her Yes, was not to the promise of fame or fortune, but rather to poverty and shame. Her Yes meant that all her plans would be placed on hold and at risk. Her Yes was a courageous act in every way.

As with all the saints, Mary is for us an example to which we can aspire. The designation Saint is the mark of one who risked all when God called. For Mary to become the mother of our Lord, she heard the voice of God so clearly and responded without hesitation.

What about You and I? Is God speaking to us? Are we being called to take a risk? Are we prepared to do so? Or is the path that we are seeking the one of ease and comfort? Mary is remembered as the one who risked all in response to God. May we have courage, you and I to do the same and together as a Parish be known for our obedience to our Lord.

AMEN.