What Is Your Response?

When the unwed, virgin Mary learns that she will become pregnant and bear a child for the salvation of the world, her response it, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is God's name." (Luke 1:46-48)

What an amazing response to what had to have been unexpected and unbelievably troublesome news. In Mary's time, to be found with child outside of marriage was punishable by death. And who was going to actually believe her story ... that an angel from God talked with her and "oh my gosh!" now I'm pregnant? Yet, Mary's response was to glorify, praise and trust God even though this was way beyond beyond anyone's ability to understand what was going on.

What is our response when God calls us into unexpected or troublesome situations? How do we respond to the person on the street corner with the sign that says, "Anything will help!" What is our response when we learn that one of our community's teens has made a "bad decision?" How do we help a neighbor who is grieving; a neighbor who hasn't been able to find employment; a neighbor we haven't talked to since we had that fight? How do we respond when things happen to us that don't seem fair; or that we don't understand?

Well, like Mary, our response is 'faith.' Maybe not every time we face a difficult decision but as a whole, humankind responds with incredible compassion, kindness, grace, and a God given capacity for love. Through Mary, and Jesus, and the disciples, the early church, and the church today, God continues the work of 'thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.'

God has much more faith in us than we have in ourselves. God sees and believes in a potential within humankind beyond our wildest imaginations. God chose to work through an ordinary young woman (Mary) to bring our Savior into the world, and continues to choose to work through ordinary people (us) to make God's presence known in the world.

Our world is full of unexpected and unbelievably troublesome news. Yet, God empowers us in faith to respond in amazing ways. In the midst of death we proclaim new life, and when we feel as if we are at the end, we remember that God is just the beginning. With humble hearts like Mary, we declare ourselves to also be God's servants, and with joy filled eyes we look for all the ways in which we can be a blessing for the Mighty One - to bear God's gift of love and grace to the world.

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Trish