Why Mary?
For as long as I can remember there has been something about Mary that has intrigued, challenged and torn at my heart strings as a woman. Her total self giving to God at a very tender age. Her ability to enter the unknown in faith even though I imagine at times fear must have overwhelmed her, and the absolute ‘Yes’ of her heart even though a sword pierced it I guess from the very beginning.
Young, innocent, giving Mary. If she had known what she knows now, would she have still been as willing to say ‘Yes’ to God? I think so.
Maybe my fascination with Mary is because of catholic blood in my bones, having been christened catholic because of my Father’s influence. Maybe it’s because of affinity with my namesake, my Mum’s namesake and my Grandmother’s namesake. Maybe because as a young girl I too felt the call of God upon my life and I too with God’s grace was able to give the ‘Yes’ of my heart.
Mary, for me, there really is something about Mary. My plan is to write a thought for every other day throughout advent, the second day will give you time to contemplate and consider something of your story and where you are going and whether or not you are prepared to give God the ‘Yes’ of your heart. And so here you will find some of my musings on Mary … nothing profound … just simple heart felt thoughts that hopefully will reach your heart too.
Day One: ‘THE BIRTH OF JESUS’
Matthew 1: 21-23 The Message Paraphrase
‘She will bring a Son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name Him Jesus – ‘God saves’ – because He will save His people from their sins.’ This would bring the prophets embryonic sermon to full term: ‘Watch for this – a virgin will get pregnant and bear a Son; They will name Him Emmanuel’ (Hebrew for ‘God is with us’)
In my mind there is nothing special about Mary and yet at the very same time everything special. A young girl, in today’s terms we might even consider a child, thirteen or fourteen years old, from a peasant background in sleepy Nazareth which at the time had a population of about 400. It must have been like living in a goldfish bowl, village mentality, everyone knew everyone and everyone’s business.
The well was the place of gossip. ‘Have you heard about Mary … have you seen the size of her stomach? And what about that Joseph, you would have thought at his age he would have known better …’
Here we find Mary, pregnant by God’s Holy Spirit – who on earth was going to believe her? ‘Pregnant by God’ … ‘oh yeah … I don’t think so’ and the penalty for this, pregnant outside of marriage was stoning, stoning to death. Mary knew this, Mary knew the penalty was death and yet … still … she said ‘Yes’ to God.
‘They will name Him Emmanuel, which means God is with us’.
As a very young woman Mary must have known ‘Emmanuel, God with her’ in order to give God the ‘Yes’ of her heart. This was just the beginning of her journey: ‘A virgin will get pregnant and bear a Son: They will name Him Emmanuel’.
Mary’s ‘Yes’ has made it possible for us to know ‘Emmanuel, God with us’ today.
Lord, as I commence this period of Advent help me to travel close to You. Help me to be very aware of Emmanuel, God with me. No matter what comes my way. May I know Your peace, joy and love deep in my heart. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen
Major Glad Ljungholm
Divisional Candidates Officer
Liverpool
i like this glad simple to understand .
ReplyDeleteIrene Bloomfield
He's on His way.
ReplyDeleteIan Brady
Thanks Glad x
ReplyDeleteKaren Sandford
Thank you, Glad x
ReplyDeleteLinda Cunliffe