Mary. Today is her day. She was an amazing woman in our history, our heritage and our faith. Many religions worship Mary as a saint because of her favor and status with God. She was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. And just what were her qualifications? Do you think she was picked because of her religious maturity or her perfection? Or because of her status in the community? Was she a sinner just like us? If so, why did God choose her? The story is old and so often repeated that perhaps it has lost its freshness, and you want to move on quickly to the wise men and the shepherds or the baby Himself. Just for a moment let us ponder Mary and imagine her thoughts.
You are an everyday Jewish girl...young and excited about your upcoming marriage. Not wealthy or well-educated, worldly or sophisticated, but sweet, pure and humble. I can imagine Mary giggling with her girlfriends, planning with her Mom, nervous but anticipating becoming a woman with a husband and family of her own. When one day, the angel Gabriel came to her and sort of "knocked her socks off!" Just seeing an angel would have been enough, but the words he spoke must have astonished her, and filled Mary with fear, amazement and questions! What? But how? We certainly get that one. "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" I also imagine she wondered if it would hurt, would she be taken away, ostracized and would Joseph turn her out? The obvious questions had a not so obvious answer: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, so the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God...for nothing is impossible with God." And here is Mary's divinely inspired response: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be as you have said."
And our response today when God says He is going to do something, is "How?" We forget we are addressing the all powerful, omnipotent God. One who is not limited by anything man can worry about. When we need to know the answers, He will reveal His plan. Sometimes He wants us to act by faith, as Mary did. Again, what were her qualifications? She was humble and pure in spirit. She and Joseph were ordinary but righteous people who became God's chosen parents for His only Son. But they were not alone in parenting the child, Jesus. And neither are we. God is ready to help us be righteous parents and grandparents.
Oh, Mary girl, you were so blessed. You yielded to God's plan. Your humble attitude and brave faith led you to be the bearer of the greatest Gift. You were amazingly rewarded. We can be, too, in a small way or a big way if we nurture a pure heart, open, honest soul and mind in order for God to use us to serve Him.
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| Mary & Jesus as a man from "The Bible" |
Bless you, Mary, for your example to us.
"Mary's Song:
My soul glorifies The Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
For He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed for the mighty one has done great things for me--Holy is His Name." Luke 1:46-49
Pray:
Dear Father, let us have a humble, pure spirit like Mary to respond to Your call. Amen
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