Some thoughts that came to mind as I read these verses:
• in verse 28 and in verse 30, Mary is told that she was “highly favored” and “found favor.” In other words, whe was called… not because she was perfect or met the qualifications for the task at hand… when God calls, it’s not about our abilities but how we respond.
• verse 29 says, “Mary was greatly troubled.” My translation… she was terrified! But she is comforted, (“Do not be afraid…”) and finds strength in what the angel says, “The Lord is with you.” That’s a promise that is repeated over and over throughout the Bible… it’s a promise we can bank on no matter the circumstances… Jesus is with us… Jesus is the Emanuel!
• in verse 34, Mary asks the angel “How will this be?” I don’t think it was about unbelief… she just couln’t see how it was all going to happen… we are limited creatures and just cannot fathom what the Almighty can do: “…no word from God will ever fail.”
• verse 38, Mary responds “I am the Lord’s servant,” and “May your word to me be fulfilled.” I am moved by her response… She can’t see it, but she chooses to believe!
My prayer for today is that we can step out in faith choosing to believe…
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2 comments:
thanks helen for such a beautiful reflection. mary's response to the angel is to be commended as a model for us to follow whenever we are asked to do something for the Lord. today's passage is a wonderful reminder, as you say, to believe, and to say in obedience to the Lord, just as mary said, "may it be to me just as you have said".
Thank you Helen for leading us with your reflections on today's passage.
Verse 34 stood out to me as well. I have wondered why Mary was favored but Zechariah rebuked when they both asked "How...?" I agree with you that Mary's question is not about questioning the possibility but a request to know part of the process.
Each time I reflect on this, I am in awe of the kind of faith that is so strong and so natural that it can just fly past logic and reasoning.
In observing Mary's faith, I think the strength of one's faith is so connected to your confidence in who or what you believe in. I believe Mary's faith was so powerful because she so knew and believed that God is powerful. It seems so logical but why is it that I so often believe that I will trust and know God better if I just had greater faith? I realized the fallacy is in placing a greater trust in my weakness than in God's greatness.
Too often my attitude is: "God is great but my faith is so weak."
Mary's attitude: I am small, I am weak, I am unable but God is great!
The change is subtle but what a difference!
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