Can you imagine how Mary must have been feeling? Think of all the emotions that one goes through when they find out they are expecting a child. Excitement at the possibilities, worries and doubts of what kind of a parent you might be, fears for all the things that can possibly go wrong, joy of new life, love for the child you carry, and did I say doubts and fears... and that is just the first minute or two. Then you revisit all of the multitude of emotions in depth as time goes on.
Mary wasn't married. She did not have any knowledge of sex or men or much of anything up to that point in her life. I would imagine that the last thing she worried about was what to name the child, but the angel took that worry off of her shoulders. This may have been good news, but it is unlikely that she felt all that good about it, even if she was obedient to God.
We want to think that she the epitome of serenity and peace, just like we have pictured her in art over the years. But let's think how we would respond--or maybe even have responded--to God laying "good news" on us. We may know where God is leading us, but we have thought of all the ways that will affect our lives, the lives of our families, our friends, We have pondered the changes we will have to make, things we may have to take on or perhaps give up. We have worried about our inabilities, our desires to do something else, that if we are obedient to God, our lives will never be the same again.
So, let us not be so quick to dismiss the value of Mary's obedience by thinking it was easy for her. Let us not discount our need and ability to be obedient to God. God calls us, just as God called Mary. God desires our obedience. And just as all our lives were changed by Mary's act of obedience--even though she may not have been aware of it all--we do not know how lives might be changed by our obedience--or disobedience.
As we journey down the Advent road, let us recommit ourselves and our lives and futures to God for the purpose of God.
Mary
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