What God Sees

Father: My Son, come and sit with me a while. I want to check in on the people and the world and see how things are going. The lands are formed and teeming with animals, the seas are formed and filled with fish and whales. All over plant life is growing. What do you see when you look at these people and things?

Son: Dad, I see a variety of peoples throughout the world -- peoples of different races, colors, creeds, with differing gifts and limitations; some making peace and others making war; some weeping, others laughing; some well, others ill; some being born and others dying; some cooperating, others refusing to cooperate.

Father: I see that too. It really bothers me that I see so many hungry mothers and children, men who have been scarred by wars and are unable to heal and now live on the streets. I also see how some people are using so many of the natural resources that others are left thirsting and hungry. I thought when I created the world that I created enough for everyone to have what they needed. Now it looks like some of them are taking more than they need, more than what really belongs to them.

Son: What can we do?

Spirit: I have been trying my hardest. I have been planting seeds of awareness in the hearts of many people. I have been trying to help people notice the injustices. Some do. But not enough have felt this pain. Their hearts are hardened against my invitations and my urgings. The other thing I have noticed is that even the ones who notice the problems are not sure how to respond to them. They cannot imagine a world that is so radically different from the one they see now.

Father: Also, I think they cannot imagine a way of living themselves that is different from how they are living now. They see the laws and promises we gave them - to Moses and Abraham and so many others - but still they struggle to see how to respond to the needs of their own communities. They cling to the laws for hope, instead of finding hope in us. They forget that we gave them the laws as guides, to help them to love us and each other. The laws are supposed to free them, but instead they bind themselves up with them, and use them as a weapon.

Son: It really hurts when I see the way they are hurting - hurting each other, hurting themselves.

Spirit: and hurting the world that we created for them to enjoy! We sent Isaiah to warn them about joining field to field, forcing the farmers to grow cash crops and starving the people in the process. When will they learn to use the land with justice?

Father: My heart is heavy. All these things we gave them as gifts, they have spent so much time and energy protecting and hoarding. Haven’t they learned yet that we will provide for them whatever they need in order to be fully alive and at peace?

Spirit: Yes! They seem less peaceful now that they have so many things. They are stressed about claiming what they think they own and fighting over who got the best of everything. This is not what we had intended.

Son: If only there was something we could do. I feel in my heart that we need to respond... but not in any way we have before. In the past it has been within the heart of one person, in a dream, in a vision, in an inspiration. This time calls for something much more.

Spirit: I agree. There are so many things we have tried and nothing seems to be working. What if one of us goes?

Son and Father: Goes?!

Spirit: Yes, what if one of us goes to earth as a human. Like the prophets who spoke for us...but now, one of us would speak. All three of us would speak through one of us. And live the way that we have been hoping for the humans to live. It would be so much more powerful than words... we need to act. We need to make into flesh the Word that we have proclaimed to them.

Father: Yes, but how... how could we do this? From the beginning we gave humanity free will. That free will should be a part of Our plan. We need a collaborator with us who could care for us on earth, to serve as a lasting example of courage and generosity. If we are going to join them and live amongst them, we will need someone to care for us in our bodily form.

Spirit: There is a woman... I have heard what is in her heart. She is kind and generous and faithful. But she is also tough. We need someone strong to help us... someone on earth who would be able to handle the immensity of what we are asking.

Father: Ahhh yes, Mary. I know her well. She has such a beautiful spirit. And that laugh! Oh I could listen to that all day.

Son: I have loved her for so long! I have known she would be capable of responding to the needs of those around her if she was asked. If I had to pick someone to care for me in my most vulnerable state - as a child- I would want it to be someone like her.

Spirit: Oh how I would love to go... to look into the eyes of the people I have loved so much, and in so many ways. I know them more deeply than they can ever know themselves. I just want to be close to them and for them to really feel how much I love them. I am so close to them, and yet they feel I am so far. If I could look into their eyes, they could look back and they would recognize me.

Father: I have also wanted to really reach them in a way that I do not feel I have been able to. I feel their awe as they gaze at the tall mountains I have created for them, I feel their pain as they cry at the deaths of their parents, and I feel their joy as they hold their newborn children and grandchildren. But there is something more I long for... a closeness with them that they have not yet experienced. I am right there with them in the land and the created world and in the people around them - and even within their very souls - but they do not see me.

Son: What if we all go? We can go together. It would be so much fun! And all three of us together could really make a difference!

Spirit: No, that would be too much. And it would be important for us to all work together, each in our unique ways. I think it should be one of us. I think we know what we need to do. We will go to Mary.

Father: Then let us send Gabriel to ask her. He will be our messenger.

Son: What if it is too much for her? What if she is afraid at what Gabriel will say?

Father: Gabriel has heard the cries of humanity and We will give him the words to give her reassurance. He will be the one to share with her the Good News that will come to all people through her. We have a plan for them!

Spirit: And then my power will come upon Mary and We will begin to dwell within her. Through her we will come to them in a new way. If she will trust us so fully, then we shall do the same.

Father: Yes, you will overshadow Mary….Jesus, I will be your heavenly Father, and you will be the Son of God on earth. You will walk, talk, and dine with them. You will laugh with them, you will cry with them. You will feel all that we feel for them, and you will also feel all that they feel. In you we will embrace everything they are. And we will be right there with you, because you are a part of us, a part of this family of the Trinity. Whatever pain you feel, we will feel too. In you, all that We are and all that they are will be one. In this way, we will all be present there on earth, but you will be the flesh and blood given for them. Son, will you go for us? We will go with you and be with you, but you must go, vulnerable and weak. You will remain in us, and we will remain in you. You will show them how to love as We love, in ways they will understand. Trust that this woman we have chosen and her husband Joseph will protect you from all harm.

Son: Yes, I will go. I will go even if it means people could hurt me or kill me, if it means I drink water that makes me sick, if I have to starve with the other children who are starving. I want to feel the pain and the joy, the love and the fear. When I am afraid, I will trust in You; I will trust in your will to carry me through. Then, now is the time.

Father and Spirit: Yes, we are ready.

Son: I think Gabriel is done with his work and Mary is with her cousin Elizabeth now. Let’s listen.

Mary:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;

behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,

according to his promise to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Luke 1:46-55