The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection for Monday, 16 March 2014 - "Mary: called to exceptional servanthood"
“The Ruach HaKodesh will come over you,
the power of Ha‘Elyon will cover you.
Therefore the holy child born to you
will be called the Son of God.
36 “You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant! 37 For with God, nothing is impossible.” 38 Miryam said, “I am the servant of Adonai; may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
2:34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam,
“This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise,
he will become a sign whom people will speak against;
35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.
All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.”
Reflection Questions:
This week we study Jesus' mother Mary and his loyal disciple John. Mary first entered the Bible story engaged to be married, and therefore likely in her mid-teens (marrying age in her culture). When God's messenger called her to a life-changing, world-changing mission, she responded with faith and trust. Shortly after Jesus' birth, she and Joseph met elderly Simeon, who warned them of the challenges they and Jesus would face during his life.
- The angel Gabriel laid out for Mary a reality and a task whose details she couldn't (and we can't) fully understand. How does her response in Luke 1:38 ("I am the Lord's servant. Let it be with me just as you have said") speak to your heart? Are you willing to surrender your life to God's leading, even if that sometimes calls you to trust in ways that reach beyond intellectual understanding?
- Simeon somberly told Mary that, as Jesus' mother, she would see many reject him, that pain like a sword would pierce her heart. In Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher holds this icon of Mary pierced by a sword (insert or link to image). How does the icon's face convey something of the price Mary paid to answer God's call?
Lord God, in Galatians 4, Paul wrote that "God sent his Son, born through a woman"—the humble, brave Mary. I, too, am your servant—use me in whatever ways you wish to build your kingdom. Amen.
 Talk about a mother going from joyful expectations to paralyzing fear! First an angel promises Mary that her son would be great, be given the throne of David and reign forever. What mother wouldn’t want to hear that her child was destined to achieve such success?! My son recently graduated from college and is looking for his first “real” job. I pray for God to guide him in his search, to give him confidence and discernment, to surround him with people who can help him learn and grow and succeed in every good way. But I worry about him starting down a career path that is not fulfilling for him. So I think I’d welcome an angel walking up to me and proclaiming that my son would be a “king” in his profession! But the other shoe soon dropped for Mary. Following the traditional Jewish ceremony of presenting her first-born son to the Lord, a man named Simeon tells Mary that when it comes to her child, “a sword will pierce your own soul.” Wow – um … thanks? Of course we know from the rest of the gospel story that Simeon’s words turned out to be quite prophetic. As a mother I can’t imagine having to watch my son be persecuted, unjustly tried, beaten, mocked, nailed to a cross, pierced by a sword – to see him suffer and slowly die. I just might want to go back to the day when Angel Gabriel said I would conceive God’s son and say, “Let me get back to you on that.” But Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” And with that statement of faith, her soul would indeed one day be pierced by a sword – and all our souls would be saved. Thank you, Mary. |
Church of the Resurrection
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
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