Today the church holds before us a young girl, 14 or 15 years old. She is indistinguishable from countless others in her day, but she is distinguished from countless others in history. She receives a message from an angel that she was to become a mother. But how was that possible? She was a virgin. Besides, even if that had not been so, why would she be singled out to be the mother of the long-expected, the eagerly awaited Messiah? Surely there were women more suitable than she. It is no wonder she was deeply disturbed. How often it is like this when God intervenes in human life, when the unexpected and the impossible happen. The first reaction to the kind of intervention is often one of fear. It can grip, almost paralyze. What we often need is a reassuring word or gesture. That is what the angel gave her. He tells her you are highly favored and the Lord is with you. That was enough for her. She was reassured. Later on, it must have seemed a strange kind of favor—a favor that forced her to go on a long journey all the way to Bethlehem, to take part in a census at a time when she was about to have the child. It must have seemed a strange kind of favor that left them out in the cold with no room at the inn. A strange kind of favor that the child had to be born in a stable, cradled in straw. After Bethlehem, they returned to Nazareth, faced years of obscurity and poverty. The baby would grow up into a man and leave her, for a life in which she had no part. Humble people loved him, while those in power hated him. And one day, he would be taken by the priests and ruler of his own nation, led to a hilltop and hung upon a cross. This was Mary’s career which followed the salutation of the angel, that she had found favor with God. It might seem the promise of the favor which she had heard was only an illusion. But the truth lay deeper and lies deeper now. Being highly favored does not mean that God takes you out of the human situation. Mary’s life reflects the human story--a story that since the fall of the human race includes suffering, disappointment, even pain and death. What we learn from the life of Mary is that suffering is made bearable by faith. Her faith was so strong that she could say, “Be it done unto me according to your word.” God’s favor for us may be when things are going so badly that we are thrown back on ourselves. Then we are forced to summon up reserves of courage and endurance which we never thought we were capable of. Disaster or pain can force us to become aware of our strengths. Mary’s strengths were her deep faith and her love. The traditions of her people, the words of the Torah, the steadfast affection of her husband. We should also look to our strengths, for the things we have going for us—love of family, support of friends, community. Did Mary know how things would turn out when she said “yes” to God? No, she did not. Nor do we. Have things turned out the way you planned? God’s love can be demanding and purifying, but also warming and encouraging. We who have God’s favor should remember the words of our God, as told to us by Isaiah, words that Mary heard many times. “Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. Should you pass through the sea, I will be with you, or through rivers, and they will not swallow you up. Should you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, and the flames will not burn you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One, your Savior.” Mary heard these words many times. She believed them and was able to give God the gift of herself, and to give us the greatest gift we will ever receive, her Divine Son. These words gave her faith because she had faith. She was able to say, be it done unto me according to your will and because of this, all generations will call him blessed.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 13:00:02 +0000
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