Mary’s life would be changed completely after the angel told her she was “highly favored”.
How many times have I listened to someone share their passion for their work, their passion for serving God, or explain how God called them, spoke to them, told them what to do and thought, “Wow, I want God to speak to me, to use me like that.”
This year I joined a community choir and one of the songs we sang was Amy Grant’s “Breath of Heaven”. Look at these lyrics:
I have traveled - Many moonless night
Cold and Weary - With a babe inside
And I wonder - What I've done
Holy Father - You have come
Chosen me now - To carry your son
I am waiting - in a silent prayer
I am frightened - by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone - Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now - Be with me now
Breath of Heaven - Hold me together
Be forever near me - Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven - Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness - For your holy Breath of Heaven
Do you wonder - As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am - For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong - Help me be - Help me
As I’ve sung this song this season it occurred to me what all Mary lived through. First of all, the rejection/pity of family and friends who could neither accept nor understand that a real live angel had spoken to her. I’m just thinking about how as communities we use stories to explain why someone did what they did, or why something happened. My guess is that Mary was never fully appreciated in her lifetime. Her price for obedience was costly. After her son, Jesus, was crucified I imagine that one of the conversations in her community might have run like this:
“Well it’s no wonder he thought he was all that, her telling him that angel told her that God would make her pregnant. It warped his brain, he got to thinking he was God’s son. It’s blasphemy it is … and it’s so sad … I mean Mary looks and behaves otherwise like such a normal sweet person. Seriously, you can never be too careful these days.”
And it got me to wondering just exactly what all would I be willing to put up with in order to be a part of God’s plan? Just how confident am I that God knows best? How long would I endure the rejection of this world in order to participate and rejoice in another?
According to scripture Mary pondered all these things, treasured up in her heart, stored these things away carefully. So when I read these excerpts from John 14, I remember why I follow Him and I ponder them, treasure them, store them away for rainy, terrible, no-good days.
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. …
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” …
9 Jesus answered: “… Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. … The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. …
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. …
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”…
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. …
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. …
29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. …
Come now; let us leave.
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