Advent Reflections Week 1 – The Ancestors

Part of a series of four Advent reflections centred on Mary and her song in Luke 1:46-55.

“Her mercy is for those who fear her
from generation to generation…
She has helped her servant Israel,
in remembrance of her mercy,
according to the promise she made to our ancestors,
to Sarah and Abraham and to their descendants for ever.“

I struggle to feel a connection to my biological ancestors. Three of my grandparents died when I was young, and although I remember my Nana with fondness, I don’t feel we understood each other very well. When my parents left their childhood homes, they moved to another part of the country. As a child, I found it odd that my friends had aunts and grandparents living round the corner. My ancestors have always felt far away.

Another way to think of our ancestors, is to think of those people who have particularly inspired us. These are the people who shine a light for our footsteps whether they’re related to us or not. Author Armistead Maupin writes that, as well as having a biological family, we can have a “logical” family. Our biological family might misunderstand, reject or hurt us, but our logical family is made of those people who know us and love us, regardless of any blood relation. We can have logical ancestors too, people who have gone ahead us, beyond this life, who leave behind an example that continues to inspire us. Who are your logical ancestors?

As Christians we also have the family we’ve been grafted into, the family of Israel. Perhaps this is our theological family. The God of Sarah and Abraham, the first Jews, has drawn us into her family. The Hebrew Bible tells the story of a God who chooses a people to make her love known, the people of Israel. The New Testament is a continuation of this story, with God expanding the boundaries of her people, welcoming Gentiles (non-Jews) into the fold. Now is the time for us Gentiles to remember we are strangers who have been invited into God’s family. God’s family has no hard borders. God’s family is not bounded by blood, culture, language or citizenship. God’s family is one of love, and God’s hand is ever extended to those at the threshold, inviting us in.

God of our ancestors Sarah, Abraham and Mary,
Thank you for our families, whether biological or logical.
Thank you for those who have carried your light ahead of us and show us the way.
Thank you for those who have invited us in.
May we extend your welcome and be good ancestors to others.

Photo by Wyxina Tresse on Unsplash