Mary, humble partner in Glory – a penny for your thoughts?
No other character in Scripture can I recall who is identified like you by a life of pondering and treasuring moments in your heart.
Perhaps no one waited in more anticipation for the birth of Jesus than you, Mary.
Any mother knows the waiting and wondering and hoping and praying that accompanies pregnancy.
What will he look like? How big will she be? Will he be fussy? Do I have what it takes to be a mother? Will I be able to handle the pain? What if something goes wrong? What will my child grow to be?
But you knew, Mary, you knew! You knew you carried the Promised One, the Son of God, Emmanuel. Every kick and flutter cried out GOD IS HERE!
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19
Mary, you had much to ponder. You knew, but you didn’t fully understand. You trusted, but you didn’t completely comprehend.
In your partnership in glorious events, you teach us unshakable faith. You do not scoff or doubt the words of God’s messenger, though they are unbelievable – a virgin, bear a son? You ask an honest question from a humble heart – how can this be? You receive your answer and are satisfied – nothing is impossible with God. And because you know God, serve God, obey God, you trust God. You take Him at His word.
You, Mary, do not receive the angel Gabriel’s message and react – as most of us women have a tendency to do – but you ponder, consider, and respond.
Your response? LET IT BE (Luke 1:38).
I wonder if you understood the joy mixed with sorrow of this let it be. You magnified God at the privilege to be the vessel by which eternity entered humanity! Indeed, grace upon grace! But did you consider the potential for scorn and shame from friends and family who would see you as a sinful and abhorred woman? Were you aware of your betrothed’s plan to quietly sever your relationship? Did you know that sharing in the glory of God’s plan also meant sharing in the grief of it? Because He was never your son. He was God’s Son.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed– and a sword will pierce even your own soul–to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34&35
When He diminished your relationship to Him as mother (Luke 8:19&20), did that leave scars on your heart? When He never married and gave you grandchildren, did that disappoint? When He left the family business, were you concerned? And when you watched Him beaten and bloodied and ridiculed and nailed to that cross, did you still want to let it be?
Maybe the words of Gabriel came to your mind, the ones that said your Son would be your salvation and the salvation of the whole world. Had something gone terribly wrong in God’s plan?
But you, Mary, of great faith and trust in the beginning, surely you were one of the first to rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus. You knew God made Life from nothing inside of you, so to raise that Life from the dead – nothing is impossible with God.
Father of us all,
Teach us to trust as Mary trusted and therefore be willing to let Your will be in our lives. Help us to ponder first, then respond; not to simply react. May we be receptive to Your plan in our lives – even to the point of enduring pain and shame.
You have proven Yourself faithful to Mary and to countless others. We offer our faithfulness in return.
Amen
kimrettmann.com 