Wilmot First Presbyterian Church

Scripture: Luke 1:38

Mary

The thing about the Mary story that really blows me away is trying to understand the faith of a fifteen year who says, “may it be to me as you have said.”  These might be greatest words of faith ever spoken by a human being (and will be echoed thirty some years later by her son before going to the cross – Lk 22:42).  We should get goose-bumps when we read or hear this story.  I shudder to think what my priorities were when I was fifteen. 

In nativity scenes, paintings and our imagination Mary is viewed as an older, more mature woman in perhaps her mid 20’s but that is highly unlikely.   Females were married young; 13, 14, 15 but almost always before age 20.  Brides chronologically were more girl than woman.  The nature of the day meant one could not afford the luxury of remaining a child, but even Scripture does not call Mary a “woman”.  In Rev 19:7 for instance, and many other places, a bride is references as a woman (gyne) but here in Luke (1:27), Mary’s youth and purity are emphasized with the use of the word “parthenos”.  In every aspect except her faith, Mary is a girl, and now this girl is supposed to mother a boy.

Two millennia ago, 15 year olds had babies outside of marriage just like today.  Unlike today, however, there was no social services to support young mothers, there was no W.I.C. program, there was no housing assistance.  A 15 year old with a baby and no husband was at the mercy of her family and largely doomed to a life of poverty, social ridicule and isolation.  “Honor killing” isn’t a new phenomenon in the Middle East, it goes way, way back, well before this parthenos’ time.  Yet, when confronted with this “favor” (vs 30) from the Lord, Mary’s only question is, “how?”  She may be young but she wasn’t naïve to how these things worked, and she appears to have actually been rather bright, a quiet thinker.  Several times in scripture it is pointed out that Mary would observe events but “ponder” them to herself (3 times in the Gospel of Luke).  When an angel shows up to the shepherds, they “quake” and throw themselves on the ground.  When an angel shows up to Mary, she is alarmed (“greatly troubled” – vs 29) but able to debate in her mind (dielogizeto) what type of greeting this may be.  I doubt I would do much “thinking” in the presence of an angel, I am hugging dirt with the shepherds.

Mary is young, Mary is bright, Mary is human.  Mary is also willing to trust God has a purpose and a plan for her and that faith in God’s plan outweighs everything.  The choice of Mary is the choice to trust God:

 – above her own power of reason (which told her this was not possible,)

 – above her fear (of hardship and for personal safety,)

 – above her desires (to carve out her own path,)

 – above her family loyalty (to not shame the family,)

 – above societal expectation (to be pure and honor the institutions, traditions)

 – above her future with Joseph (who would surely have nothing to do with her now).

Later it would be Mary who trusted Jesus enough to prompt him to perform his first miracle (Jn 2), and it would be Mary who stayed until the very, very bitter end to watch her son die (Jn 19:25).

I am certain Gabriel’s words were still with her when Jesus was crucified, though in that moment they must have seemed like a cruel joke, “Hail, O favored one”.  Favor is a lot more difficult to recognize when one is in pain, and Mary, whether fifteen or forty-five, was never spared pain because of her faith.  Why do some of us then think we should be?  Sometimes the favor we long to receive comes through the very suffering we fear; like Easter after the cross, like birth after labor, like life after death.  Faith does not eliminate pain, but it does destroy death and for Mary, and for us, I’d call that a favor.

Prayer: Loving God, we are a people of little faith despite all you do and despite all you are.  We have our plans and we are too slow to relinquish them to You for Yours.  Forgive us and find favor with us in Christ’s name. AMEN

Activity: Take one of the “pains” of your life and offer it to God for God to use in any way.