Luke 1:38 “’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’”
This was Mary’s moment of surrender. Whatever success looked like for her up to this day – a happy wedding, a good marriage, a growing family, and a quiet life in Nazareth – it most certainly did not involve scandal, mystery, prophetic fulfillment, and ultimately great suffering. After a disconcerting and inexplicable visit from an angel, everything changed for Mary. And what could be more ripe for misinterpretation than the news that this unmarried girl was pregnant? It could not be hidden. It had great repercussions for her fiancé, Joseph, who Mary could hardly expect to understand. This was utter disruption, uninvited and unexpected. Mary was greatly troubled (1:29) and asked at least one question about what seemed impossible (1:34). Yet, in the end, she surrendered to God’s plan and to her own life’s upheaval. Shortly afterwards, on a visit to the hill country of Judea, Mary proclaimed the beautiful words of her song known as the Magnificat (1:46-55). In it, she showed how fully she had embraced God’s new direction for her life. Indeed, eighty generations since these events, there are people throughout history and today who call Mary blessed (1:48). And I do, too.
Father, how strange and amazing and utterly perfect are your ways. Thank you for your humble servant, Mary, who trusted you and bore the Savior of the world. Help me to be like her, surrendering my plans to you and letting you interrupt with something infinitely greater.