Sometimes saying 'yes' to God can change our lives. We don't know where that may take us - but the journey God takes us on can be the journey of a life time and we will never be the same again.
Mary says yes to God - we don't know were she is when the angel visits her and that doesn't really matter - but without thinking she says "I am the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to your word" and then her journey begins. Why is Mary choosen? Does God see in her someone who possess the attributes and devotion who will care for his only son? Does the preincarnate Christ look down over all the creation he has made and say - 'she is the one i want to carry me in her womb.' What is it about this woman that makes her so special. Or maybe it is her ordinaryness that appeals to God. Of course God has the benefit of knowing her heart and knowing the type of woman she will be (bit of a cheat really) but for whatever reason Mary is the one.
Where God takes her is on the most amazing journey from beginning to end- but lets take a look at this young woman. She is probably 13 or 14 and now she is pregnant. Oh the Shame, what will the neighbours think? If they have net curtains wil the neighbours twitch them? What about her reputation - do the family think she is a whore? What does Joseph say when he is told - she is betrothed - does he doubt her and how nasty are his comments to her? Yet he is an honourable man so he must be hurt at what he sees as a betrayal. And what about the penalty for adultery if he exposes her? Is her life at risk?
Is this why Mary is whisked off to see Elizabeth in the country? Is it to protect her? Does Joseph tell her to 'get out of my sight?'. Is this an attempt to give Joseph thinking time? And what does she feel as she is sent away from her family. She is being rejected by the family like many a young girl who has 'got into trouble.' Yet amid all this there is no complaint.
She holds on to the promise she has recieved through the angel. I wonder does she ever doubt. "Why wont they believe me" but then again she has decided to trust God and believe his promise. That is believing against all the odds.
Mary is an amazing young girl - and i believe she should be the patron of all teenage mothers because she can identify with so much of what they go through.
How could this young girl really know what she had signed up to when she said'yes' to God. Did she know the pain she would have to face and did she find thorns among the straw. What did she think about the crudeness of the stable or being on the run from Herod? Yes there was the joy of the wise men but did she really understand what the gifts signified? And then when she takes the Christ child to the temple, she is told that a sword will pierce her own heart. Does Mary spend her life wondering what these things mean? Or when she sees her beloved Son on the cross does the journey make sense to her? What does she think when he cries out to God about being forsaken? Does Mary hate God for taking her son - or is this still the part of blind acceptance where she still trusts God.
But imagine what it is for her as she gives birth to the one who gives birth to all creation or as she listen to the little cries of the infant before whom all must be silent.
Is the catholic church wrong for venerating Mary and terming her the mother of God and Queen of heaven or have the more reformed churches failed to recognise her true calling.
For me - she is blessed among all women and i long to meet her in heaven - I have a lot of Questions to ask her.
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