Mary is told that the Lord is with her, and her response is being perplexed. Not me, no way, couldn't be possible, don't have what it takes, haven't done what it takes! Sounds like most of us when we first hear the call to discipleship and ministry!
OLAS
Virginity is at the core of our life, male or female, that belongs only to God and under no circumstances can be manipulated or controled by any other force. This is a short summary of Kathleen Norris' work on the Annunciation.
tom in ga
Vs. 38 is, to me, an antidote for all the scholarly thought I find in commentaries and old (and I mean OLD) class notes from seminary. Mary's simple faith allows her to experience God's fantastic call and reply, "let it be with me according to your word." I intend to make use of the KISS principle this week and encourage faith as the acceptance of the unknowable. Pastor Rick in FL
Mary's response to this grand news is remarkable, she doesn't doubt the angel's words, but simply asks how....she's had her talk with her Mom and knows that something extra-ordinary will have to happen, she remembers Abraham & Sarah, Hannah & Elknah, her cousin Elizabeth & Zech, God did the seemingly impossible for them, but their only hurdle was age and barrenness, her problem was a bit more difficult....thus, "How can this be?" Then, assured that "nothing is impossible for God," she rejoiced, "Let it be, Lord, let it be." Oh that we could respond to the news of Christ being born in us in the same way, realizing that though we may not feel equipped or worthy, all we need to do is say, "Let it be, let it be."
Every year when I read this passage I find myself marveling at how ordinary Mary and Joseph must of been. It is so amazing to me that God would choose two regular people to be the parents of the Son of God. It certainly brings home the fact that God prefers to use ordinary, common, even sinful people to do Divine work. How awesome! How humbling!
Grace and Peace,
Mel in NE
To the Servant Prophet in PA:
Thanks so much for the reference. This will help me in my sermon on "full of Grace" The explanation of the difference between wanting to help, wanting to fix, and wanting to serve is very succinct. Mary was ready for service, so she was "full of grace".
Shalom
pasthersyl
Servant Prophet: You're heading in the same direction I'm going. I have a baptism this coming Sunday (and we just had 10 confirmations this past Sunday) and the "being built" idea fits so well.
Jude Siciliano in his "first impressions" sent out via Preachers' Exchange comments on the dangers of being "temple builders" == "When we build the temple, we will determine its dimension. We will image God in it; maybe even make God in our own image and likeness. (God will look white and male, because that's what the ones in charge of the design look like.) A comfortable community may also want to have an image of a comfortable looking God in its temple, one that does not look like it will upset the status quo. We will also build the walls; keeping some out and shielding ourselves from outside influences. We will build doors, locate the entrance points into the temple, lay down rules for admission, welcome folks like us, but make others feel uncomfortable as they pass through. Such are the dangers of temple building."
Such a contrast this presents to being the one who is built....
More later.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Prophet and Eric: Thank you! I think you've just made it OK for me to preach this a 2nd time (I incorporated it into the sermon yesterday). It's further along the lines of how God moves -a nd God promsies great things; garlands for ashes (Isa reading), light for dark, salvation for sin, eternity for mortality...
I just met with one of my ministry candidates: she talked about Christian lingo being one of the things that keeps people outside the walls - an arrogant "we're in, you're out" attitude. I'd never put it that way, but I know - have experienced - exactly what she's talking about.
What are the walls? and what's inside - what's inside is what's inside Mary - a burst of new life.
For anyone who's been pregnant, or used their wife's belly button as an intercom to their unborn baby, knows what it is to carry new life. Like Mary, if she is to be the prototype of the Church, we are to bring Christ into the world. I like Barbara Brown Taylor's sermon on this (i like all B.B. Taylor's sermons, actually) called "Singing Ahead of Time" and like the image of Mary and Elizabeth bursting with life. That's what pregnancy feels like.
I used that for a sermon once (one of my personal favorites) and a woman came up to me afterwards and wondered if men could relate. I said, "I just consider it poetic justice for all the football analogies I've listened to through the years." We had a good chuckle.
Sally, plugging away in GA
A heart to heart chat? Mary has a heart to heart with an angel and opens herself to being God?s servant, open to letting Jesus be Jesus through her. She knows that she takes the risk of being rejected as a slut, as a tramp, as unworthy of polite company, as a result of this new openness to God?s activity in her life. An unmarried girl, pregnant, was not just looked down on but actively persecuted. Now, she needs someone to have a heart to heart with in sharing her burdens and she finds a friend in her kinswoman Elizabeth. She can find acceptance, even understanding, from Liz that she couldn?t find in her own home town among the people who have known her all her life. What a tragedy, but at the same time what a miracle! It?s a tragedy that people who should know Mary?s true character and continue loving and accepting her simply will not because she has, as they would see it, made a mistake. But what a miracle that Mary has a friend in Elizabeth! What a gift Elizabeth?s acceptance is to Mary! Often at Christmas families are brought together by the force of tradition or habit and old rivalries surface. Often we find ourselves playing the roles we played as children, trapped by the fact that these people knew us when we were indeed young and foolish! So, maybe you need a miracle? or maybe you know someone who needs a miracle? can you be a Liz to someone who is as confused as Mary? Or, if you are the one floundering, is there a Liz you can talk to? God sent Jesus as a ?hear to heart chat? with us? the one who lives out total acceptance, total understanding, complete friendship. As we revel in that sense of security for ourselves, can we, like Liz, also be a friend to another?
Steve in Delta, BC
I find it intresting that God chose the right person to be the mother of Jesus. Someone who would be willing to accept what she could understand and leave the rest to God. Mary may have had thoughts about how this would effect the life she had all planned out but she realizes there is something special about to happen, that God's plan must take presidence over her own. She accepts the challenge out of respect and (I believe) with hope as she realizes this is the Messiah her people have longed for.
In my experience as a servant I have noticed how many times I find myself going against the grain of what the majority of the congregation see as ministry. Sometimes I get the feeling I am serving a church of pre-Christians and I wish I had an angel who could come and tell them not to be affraid of the plan God has for them. I preach it but it hasn't caused them to accept their call to servanthood...it's only made them upset with me for mentioning their responsibility.
When we serve with a servant spirit good will come but the road way has it's obsticals. Mary and Joseph got a good taste of the cost involved serving the Lord. They had to move to a foreign country for a while, they even had to leave their family and friends behind when they settled in Nazareth. Being favored by God has it's benefits but it also has it's costs. But can you imagine what our life would be like today if Mary said NO, but thanks for asking.
Just some thoughts I'm trying to work out. It's hard pedaling up hill when the winds in your face...if ya know what I mean. KB in ks
KB in KS - that's along the lines of a thought I had at study group last week: it's ironic how many seasonal songs we have about being home for the holidays when during the original holiday no one was home. And Mary and Joseph had to flee with their baby. It's a little thorn in my side that my current church doesn't have Christmas Eve services because they have family in town, or are going out of town to visit family.
My daughter just called - her first day back at school after a bad bug, and she didn't make it through the day.
Sally in GA
The punishment for adultery was strict- any person committing adultery was to be stoned to death (see Leviticus 20:10)I think this also included the period of engagement. So this is a dangerous thing she accepts. More than her reputation is at stake. But stiil, she trusts God. Mary's faith fills me with shame, for hers is a strong fath-believing the unbelievabnle at the hands of God's messenger. Yet her faith also fills me with hope, for if this simple peasant girl can have such faith, maybe, just maybe , it is also possible for me. "For nothing is impossible with God!
Revgilmer in Texarkana
Why does Mary ask, "How can this be, since I am a virgin"? Mary is betrothed to Joseph, does she not know how children are made? Is Joseph not of the linage of David? Why then is Mary so puzzled? Mary is puzzled because she has taken a vow to remain a virgin, perpetually. God therefore assures her that her child will not be conceived in the usual manner but rather the Most High will over shadow her. As a sign to show that nothing is impossible with God, Mary is given the sign of Elizabeth conceiving in her old age. Daren in Houston
When I did my planning 6-7 weeks ago I jotted down a title for the 4th Sunday -- "A House for God" -- using both the 2nd Gospel lesson & the Hebrew Testament lesson. I looked at that title this morning & thought, hmmm, what did I mean by that? You have reminded me of the general direction my thoughts were taking as I read the texts all those weeks ago!
StudentPastor in KS
Daren tells us that Mary "has taken a vow to remain a virgin, perpetually..."
Is that so? Can you point us to any particular Scriptural evidence for this assertion?
I suspect that Mary's "How can this be so?" is not because she is ignorant of the way in which babies are conceived, but rather because she knows all to well and, not yet having engaged in the necessary behaviours, is puzzled how conception might have taken place. (It is surely not because of any purported, non-Biblically-supported, alleged vow of perpetual virginity!)
Blessings, Eric in KS
I like what the angle said when Mary ask, "how can this be." The angle told her the same thing he told me and you when we accepted the call to serve him in what every way you are. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You:"
Is there any other way you are capable of ministering?
js of TX
Daren in Houston said, "Mary is puzzled because she has taken a vow to remain a virgin, perpetually."
Eric has already mentioned that this is not scripturally supported. I'd like to point out that it is likely contradicted by scripture. If Mary had indeed made such a vow, I do not believe she would have been espoused, betrothed, engaged to Joseph. Somehow, she would have been supported in a family in another way.
In Genesis 2:24, we read of husband and wife becoming one flesh. I believe this not to be merely a mystical mind-spirit melding, but a reference to physical intercourse. Since Mary and Joseph were going to be married, they would have expected to have physical intercourse.
I do believe Mary was a virgin until after Jesus was born. That's what scripture tells us. Beyond that, we have reference only to Jesus' mother and his brothers, which can be interpreted in a couple of different ways. Whether Mary remained a virgin after Jesus' birth is arguable (I don't believe it). As to such a vow made before a marriage, that idea I can not support.
Michelle
I don't know the reference but I read some where, I think in "Cisterian Magazine" that
(regarding Mary) that conception took place through the ear.
This has much to say to us regarding the way we "listen" to the Word of God; how we pray, how we receive Christ in our own life.
tom in ga
I got cut off before I finished my thought and do not know how much of what I had written, if any, got transmitted. I have come upon this idea of how to tie the annunciation of John's birth with Jesus'. The reactions to the two presents us with the only possible human response to a direct message from God: remain silent or tell others about it. I believe God calls to do the latter and with that thought I will challenge my congregation to go and tell it on the mountain and everywhere.
Here is a quote I found in textweek.com that you might find useful as you talk about Mary. "Without acknowledging that we are, in our virgin beginnings, the humble, barefooted recipients of a grace and a call that are the foundation of all we can ever hope to accomplish, our civilization loses all perspective and our power inevitably corrupts us. We could do worse than to claim Mary as our patron saint, she who was the simple and pure recipient of the grace of the Holy Spirit."
