Faith

Luke 1:26-37 tells us the angel was sent to Mary to tell her she would give birth to a son. She was to name him Jesus. He would be great and would be called the Son of the Most High, the Holy One and the Son of God.

Mary’s response was, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1: 38)

So Mary stepped out in faith. She knew what the angel had told her, yet she had no idea all that would mean. She could have spent the day and night worrying about her responsibility. She could have withdrawn and been paralyzed with fear. She could have tried to bargain with God and tell Him she changed her mind.

Yet, we are told in Luke that her cousin, Elizabeth stated, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” (Luke 1:45)

Now that is FAITH.

During this Advent season as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus, our Lord, can we have the same faith Mary demonstrated? We don’t really know what it means to serve God, to accomplish the things He calls us to do, to be open and honest to His call. We don’t have to know and understand. All we have to do is acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son who came on earth to be with mankind and show us the way.

May we use the Advent season to welcome and acknowledge this mystery and say as Mary did, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Midge Going–2009