Although I wrote htis for a serivce on the evneing of Advent 3, I sense it might better fit Advent 4, where the focus in Mary... feel free to use if it works for you!

In her famous poem-cum-carol, Christina Rosetti penned these words:

Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day,

A breast full of milk, and a manger full of hay...

There came a day when Mary, realising that milk was no longer sufficient succour for her child, took bread, broke and handed him a small piece, smiling to herself as his eyes widened at the unfamiliar texture and taste…

Week by week, as the setting sun heralded Shabbat, Mary would light the lamps and intone the prayers, watched by the keen eyes of her eldest child… 

And the day came when this boy was old enough to participate in the special Shabbat of Passover, asking the traditional questions, evoking the familiar responses, and for the first time sipping the rich, red, bitter wine…

Year by year, growing, observing, participating, experiencing… 

Then one year the man hired a guest room and gathered his friends for this festival of festivals…

The bread held in his hands, the years rolling backwards to that first time… the familiar words of the blessing, the gentle tearing of the bread, and the shocking words, “this is my body… broken… for you…” 

The cup lifted for all to see, the memories of Passovers past… the soothing, familiar blessing spoken softly… and the heart-breaking cry, “this is my blood… poured out… for you… for many…”

An old memorial reimagined?

A new born rite?

Violence as the way of peace?

Darkness leading to light?

Mystery

Mystery

Mystery

So we gather, drawn from the shadows of observing in to the heart of the story

To break bread

To sip wine

And to live the memory of Mary’s son.

Let us pray:

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, through you goodness we have this bread and this wine, produce of earth and work of human endeavour. 

May we find blessing in the sharing and nourishment for the journeying as remember

Amen.

[sharing of bread and wine without (or with if you prefer) further words]

Son of Mary, you shared our frail humanity

Son of David, you began the reign of eternity

Son of God, you bring us peace.