Mary

We, latter-day Christians, take the Christmas story rather matter of factly, the words to Silent Night roll off our tongues, but let’s travel back, over 2000 years ago, to the tiny village of Nazareth and peek in on one particular resident,

 Mary. Life in the gritty, working-class ghetto of Nazareth, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" John 1:46, was hard for Joachim and Anne. They struggled to keep tiles on the roof and food on the table. The only bright spot, in their bleak existence, was their precious daughter, Mary. Mary had always seemed delicate, almost other-worldly. Lovely in appearance, demure in her actions, and humbly obedient, the kind of child every parent dreamed of. Girls were betrothed and married at an early age then, and Mary would soon be wed to well-respected Joseph. Everything was wonderful, until that one fateful day. Mary joyfully approached her parents, beaming with excitement. “Mother, father, God has chosen me to be the mother of the Messiah. Even now the child grows within me!” she exclaimed. Joachim and Anne’s hearts dropped in unison. Our Mary, pregnant? The punishment could be stoning, or banishment from the family, that was the law. Fear overcame them, even though the Jewish people believed that a special young woman would be chosen by God, someday, for this remarkable assignment, but Mary? Try to imagine your own emotions, if your 13 year old daughter told you this story, you’d be afraid, very afraid, too. Who knows what followed next, as Mary explained the details of her conception to them. We know that when she relayed the same “good news” to Joseph, he wanted to quietly divorce her, so she wouldn’t be killed. As we all know, an angel came and explained everything to him, and he married her. Wow, when you put this all down into human terms, it is a miracle, indeed. That she wasn’t killed, and that her spouse supernaturally, believed, and lovingly, sex-lessly supported her!! You know that was God!! The most amazing element in this awesome story, is Mary’s willingness and obedience. Sure, she asked how it could happen, since she was a virgin, but other than that, she was in 100% in. God doesn’t ask us to do anything nearly this difficult, but do we respond with such joy and willingness? “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38. Here is the song of her heart, the Magnificat: from Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
I Praise God for Mary, and the example of innocent, humble faith she set for us all. And I thank you Lord for opening my eyes, heart and mind to the lives of all these women who represent our lineage of grace.