Voices Found: The Valiant Voices of Blessed Women

Judith 13:18-20 , Luke1:46-55, (Magnificat) and Luke 1:26-38 are appointed for the Feast of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year B

Voices Found #158

A Song of Judith, verse 1

I will sing a new song to my God,

for you are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.

Let the whole creation serve you,

for you spoke and all things came into being.

Words: a Song of Judith, Enriching Our Worship 1

Music: William Bradley Roberts 

Uzziah said to Judith, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth, blessed by the Holy God, who created the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies.  Praise of you will never depart from the hearts of women and men who remember the power of God."

Judith 13:18-19 tr. Gafney

Voices Found # 64

Mary, when the angel's

 voice called you highly favored.

dread and joy in your heart mixed, pondered there and savored.

May we learn to welcome all that our life is bringing,

even when in pain we feel birth within us springing.

Old and sage Elizabeth, birth anticipating,

nurturing your cousin's will, you taught hopeful waiting.

So, as women long have done, may we never falter

to extend a gentle touch, fears to courage alter.

Words: Carol Goodwin King

Music: Tempus adest floridum, melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee, Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  And the name of the virgin was Mary.  And the angel came to Mary and said," Rejoice favored one! The Most High God is with you."  Now she was troubled by the angel's words and pondered what sort of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her,"Fear not Mary, for you have found favor with God."

Luke 1: 26-31, tr. Gafney

Reflection:

Judith and Mary took courage; they overcame the voice of fear to follow the Voice of the Spirit.  Most women, unlike Judith,  have not been called to execute a villainous enemy, but most mothers will remember, with Mary,  approaching their first pregnancy with a mix of dread and joy.  Mary was very young.  She knew nothing of a pregnancy or birth, so she visited her older cousin, Elizabeth for comfort and wisdom.

 Like Sarah, the  miraculous mother of the of the First Covenant, Mary took courage and   answered yes, I will give birth;  I will  accept God's call.  I will  join lovingly with  the Great Creator and I will  bring forth a new covenant: I will give birth to Emmanuel, God With Us. 

Meditation:

Voices Found # 152

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God, my savior.

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me, and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you from generation to generation.

You have shown the strength of your arm

and have scattered the proud from their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel,

for tou have remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise you made to our forebears, to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Words: The Song of Mary, Enriching Our Worship 1

Music: Melody from Antiphon 17, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) adapt. Lisa Neufeld Thomas

Mothering God, we give thanks for Judith and Mary, fearless women who heard the voice of the Spirit and followed her lead, trusting in the power of their Creator to bring forth new life and eternal joy.

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