Saurday, December, 19, 2015

Luke 1:38

Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

Let it be

Artists for centuries sought to paint the exquisite beauty of this moment.

Their sensitive souls knew there is no greater beauty than that of a human soul surrendering to will of the Love who seeks it.

I like the portrayals that show Mary bowing before the angel Gabriel who also bows to her, each humbling themselves before the beauty standing before them … and to the mystery of God’s desire to use them to bring Christ to the world.

“Let it be to me according to you word.” Mary consents to the Love who seeks to live in her womb. There is no arrogance, no pride of privilege in her words, only the undiluted desire to be a vessel of Love’s will.

She does not yet know what this will cost her. But we know. Love’s will always means pain in a world that is not ordered by the Love who made it.

She loved a child whom she would never quite understand. She loved a son who would never truly belong to her but to the Loving Mystery who filled him.

But maybe she understood this, for she, too, had surrendered. And she learned that Love’s will takes you to places you do not want to go, doing things you thought beyond you.

But you do it for the joy, yes joy, of knowing Love live in you and through you to bring blessing to a world of hurt and to hearts that get lost in the maelstrom of living.

Mary consents to be the instrument of Love’s will in the world. A simple act of faith, trust that knows nothing of what will come but only that the One who is Love will be there in the dark and light.

Blessed are you, Mary, our sister. There are no words for your beauty. We can only stand before you in wonder. 

Pr. David L. Miller