This Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent, when we remember the conception of Jesus. The Gospel text for this Sunday changes from year to year, but each one celebrates God taking up residence in Mary’s womb.
The collect (prayer) for the fourth Sunday of Advent doesn’t change from year to year. It always includes a sentence that connects Mary’s womb to our hearts because both are dwelling places for Jesus. “We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself.” (BCP, p. 160). It’s a beautiful thing for God to take up residence in us too.
This Christmas, we’ll be singing one of my favorite hymns, which references Mary’s womb – “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” I love it. I belt out every single word like I’m on American Idol. Until this line rolls around: “Lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb.”
I find these words slightly humorous but mostly embarrassing. When we sang them a couple of weeks ago at Lessons and Carols, I thought of the visitors in the pews who might not be familiar with Christianity, much less the idea of God abhorring a woman’s womb (even if the hymn text ultimately rejects that idea). It’s nothing to get stuck on, but I abhor this antiquated nod to misogyny.
The author of the hymn was writing in the 1700’s, so I can give him a break. But I wonder if he was familiar with this verse from Luke’s Gospel that recounts a woman exclaiming to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” (Luke 11:27).
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t need to sing about Mary’s nursing breasts. But I do prefer to sing about her womb being blessed as opposed to not being abhorred. It’s certainly more faithful to Scripture.
So, this Christmas I’ll be singing, “Lo, He blesses the virgin’s womb.” Just like Jesus blesses us when he enters our hearts. (Eph. 3:17). Just like he considers our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:19). Thanks be to God that the entirety of humanity is fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), wombs and all.
Adrian+