It has been 208 years since the first Marists took the pledge of Fourvière in July 1816. In 2232, another 208 years from now, do we wonder how this dream has grown, changed, and called each of us forward, both individually and together as a community of faith? But this tradition is much richer and older than 208 years. If we truly believe that Mary called us, then we must look at her life with Jesus and Joseph as our inspiration. Mary, who stood at the foot of the cross. Mary, who listened to the inspiration of God from an angel. Mary, who accepted an invitation. Mary, who waited for the birth of her child. Mary, who visited her cousin Elizabeth. Mary, who risked her life as she could have been stoned to death. Mary, who gave birth amongst great poverty. Mary, who fled as a refugee. Mary, who presented Jesus in the temple. Mary, who had to deal with losing Jesus. Mary, who called her son forward at the Wedding Feast of Cana to start his ministry. Mary, who prayed in the upper room in fear of the Romans and felt the presence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Most of what she did was hidden and unknown from our eyes. Mary had her life to live, and we must do the same today. We have our life to live today. In our world. In our context. But Mary was not alone. Even when the angel departed, she was not alone. God stirred inside of her. We are called to be Mary in our world today. We have a community that echoes the spirit of Mary in their lives. Together, we are called to bring to birth God in our world today. Hidden and unknown. Do you hear the angel’s quiet voice stirring in your life?
As a lay Marist, married with three children, Mary’s spirit calls in and us out. When we stop being religious. When we stop being Christian. When we stop listening to God stirring inside of us. Mary’s spirit calls us out. No longer a pattern for living life that we can predict, or a way of living that our culture can expect. This way has not always been easy, good, or free from sin. We are not perfect. But we are to radically take on a call and a pattern for living life that ponders and reflects deeply on the promptings of the Holy Spirit stirring within us. Even when we do not expect it. Let social justice be our guide. As Jesus read the scroll of Isaiah:
'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.' (Luke 4)
We are called to do the same. Fourvière is an invitation to recognize God’s spirit. Fourvière is an invitation to be anointed. Fourvière is a call to share good news. Fourvière sends us out to make a difference for those who are captives, to bring sight to the blind, to lift oppression, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. This is not a single moment some 208 years ago, but rather our journey to life with Mary’s spirit inspiring us today. She was a light bearer. To bear the one who would overcome the greatest darkness. We are called to be light bearers too. In different ways. In our own contexts. In the craziness of our worlds. Like a tree that organically grows. To find places of darkness and to bring God’s presence to them. In suffering. We are to re-imagine how God can live in our own lives. In different contexts. As married people. As single people. As children. As uncles and aunties. As religious. A shared calling. As community. As family. Our story becomes Mary’s story when we commit to the dream of what was Fourvière.
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