The Neck

Allowing Mary to turn our heads

Luke 1:57-64

            When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.  When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”  But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”  So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.  He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

             I often think of the advice the mother of the bride gave her daughter in the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”  Do you remember it?  The bride was getting cold feet and threw herself on the bed crying and sobbing uncontrollably.  The mother calmly counseled her, saying, “Honey, there are only two things you need to remember to have a happy marriage.  First, the man is the head of the house.  And second, the woman is the neck.  And the neck can turn the head.”  May I ask how many men have suffered whiplash with how fast their wives have turned their heads?  The Church describes marriage as a “consortium vitae,” a sharing of life, an equal partnership, a mutual give and take, and that’s certainly true.  But anyone married for more than five minutes knows that the neck can and will turn the head.

             In the gospel today we see the neck turning the head as John’s name is bestowed on his circumcision day.  The neighbors and relatives ask what the parents will name the child, and his mother, Elizabeth, says, “He will be called John.”  The people, however, protest and turn to the his father, Zechariah, for help.  But Zechariah had suffered enough whiplash in arguments with his wife and knew he better agree.  So he wrote on a tablet: “John is his name.”  You know, sometimes, the Bible gets a bad rap for being “misogynist,” treating women as second class citizens.  Anyone who thinks that has forgotten that while the man is the head, the woman is the neck.  Just ask Zechariah.

             My friends, who is turning your head these days?  On this penultimate day before Christmas, every advertisement tries to turn our heads to buy this and to grab that gift.  Instead, may I suggest you allow a woman to turn your head?  Oh, it’s not some sexy super model, but rather a simple Super Mom, the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Indeed, a thousand years ago, St. Bernard of Clairvaux had described Mary as “the neck” connecting Christ the Head with his Body, the Church.  Today, let Mary be your neck and turn your head away from all the commercialism and cacophony surrounding this season, and rather to the quiet contemplation of the coming of Christ.  Pray the rosary, sit silently in the darkened church, go for a long walk with your dog, read the Bible stories of Jesus’ birth slowly.  Let Mary turn your head to Christ.  After all, truly “wise men” know better than to argue or resist.

            Praised be Jesus Christ!