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You all know I am a fan of the silliness, so in case you missed the cheeky meme I shared on Facebook this past week, I’ll share it here. It said, “If you’re out shopping today, be nice to the retail workers. It’s not their fault you waited until Mary’s water broke to shop.” Funny, right? But it also got me thinking about Mary and what she may have been thinking and feeling in the days leading up to the birth of Jesus that we celebrate this Sunday.
I mean, ever since the angel Gabriel appeared to her with the news that she was to become pregnant, even though she was not yet married to her betrothed, Joseph, and would give birth to “the Son of the Most High,” the long-awaited Messiah of her people who would reign on the throne of David and whose kingdom would have no end, Mary must have been a wee bit nervous. How could this be happening? Why had God chosen her for this incredible task? What would it be like giving birth to and raising the Messiah? Was she up to it? Would she be good enough?
Mary was a pious Jew, and as such had a strong faith, which is clearly illustrated in her brave response to the angel Gabriel. She answers,
“I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me as you say.”
How many of us could say that we would have answered with such conviction? How many of us would step so bravely forward into what God had asked of us?
Sometimes we may feel Spirit nudging us in ways we don’t understand. We may feel we are being called to something higher, to a greater purpose, but we are fearful. Like Mary, we can’t imagine why God would choose us for such a task. We worry whether we are up to it, whether we are good enough.
I know I felt this way when I received my calling to ministry. I knew God was calling me to step into my higher purpose, but I was fearful and I wondered why God would call me of all people. I wondered if I was worthy. Nevertheless, I started by simply answering, “Yes.” I trusted and believed that the details of how that would look and what that would be like would be revealed to me in due time. I knew that God had a mighty work to do in me and would prepare me to do the work I was being called to do. And I took it one day at a time, one step at a time.
Can you relate to Mary’s story? Perhaps God is asking you to step out of your comfort zone and into your higher purpose as well. What is Spirit nudging you to do? How are you being called to step into your own greatness, to fulfill your own potential as a unique expression of God’s love?
Can you find inspiration in Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel and simply say “yes” to God? Can you answer Spirit’s nudging by saying, “I am the hands and feet of God on Earth. Let it be as you say”?
This takes courage and it takes faith. But there is no higher calling in this life than to fully step into the highest purpose that God has for you. When you say “yes” to the call of Spirit, it can be a little frightening and you may question whether you are up to it. But be assured, what you are being called to will ultimately be for your highest good and will benefit all of Creation in ways you cannot even imagine or understand.
This Christmas, I invite you to trust the nudging of your own inner divinity, to trust the call of your own heart, to allow yourself to be guided by Spirit as you step ever further into the beautiful, amazing expression of God that you are. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, may a greater sense of our own higher purpose and the faith to more fully embrace it be born in each of us.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
~Rev. Michelle
