I have a confession to make: I love Christmas! My senses are fully engaged. Cinnamon and cloves mull around cider, while deep reds, golds and brilliant white lights wrap around pine needles. Satin ribbons and colored papers slip through my hands as I attempt to wrap gifts (sorry Martha, I haven’t figured out how to get my corners perfectly square yet). All the while the familiar bell tones announce Christmas is approaching. My mobile phone announces it frequently throughout the day as it is now the default ring tone for all incoming calls. Although I do love this season I have gotten caught up in the commercialism and hype of a holiday gone hijacked.
In order to put things back in perspective I went back to the old book, flipped through the tissue paper thin pages and re-read the account of old. Go back with me to that wonderful story. . . .when the firmament was filled with all its glory; a time when angels whispered things foretold. . .treasured promises for Mary to hold. . . .
Because friends, there is just something about Mary!
We’ve read the story of the birth of Jesus bunches of times, but this time, for me, what captured my attention was Mary. I felt connected to her, yet longed to be more like her. Having just finished the study Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere, I’ve felt newly empowered to “wake up and change my world” one blog at a time. This empowerment is rising within me and yet lacks some of the helium it needs to get off the ground. But in reading the Christmas story, I felt a renewed sense of confidence because there is just something about Mary.
Luke 1:26-45 tells it all; I’m just going to give you the highlights. An angel whispered to Mary she is the one to carry the Christ. Mary isn’t quite sure how that is going to work out, and the angel responds, “Nothing is impossible with God.” Full of faith Mary responds, “May it be to me as you have said.” Wow, exactly the response I would have given, NOT! I continued reading about Mary’s family visit to her cousin, who is elated by the news of Mary’s unexpected pregnancy (again not the response most get when dropping the bomb of an unexpected arrival), “Mary, blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”
Before I can get to the part about kings, presents, stars and the baby—I am arrested by the words and meaning on the pages. . . because there is just something about Mary.
She believed.
In the Greek the word believed is Pisteuo, which means to place confidence, think to be true, be persuaded, place confidence in. It is found many times in the New Testament and often in association with miracles. To be more accurate, it is a characteristic of the person who benefitted by the miracle. I pondered this: because Mary believed, she conceived.
Everything hinged on Mary’s belief.
Think of the ramifications had Mary not believed. What if she said to the angel, “Look isn’t there some other virgin you can embarrass with an unplanned pregnancy?” Or, “Look, I’m really flattered, but I am soooo busy planning a wedding, and just don’t think I can handle another thing on my to do list.” Had she dismissed the angel’s pronouncement who would be blessed among women? Would there have been a savior’s birth?
While you ponder those things, I’m going to type out the next installment of this blog and try to answer the question: If there is something about Mary, how do we get that something so we can give birth to the dreams angels have whispered to us?