So there she stood, listening to the words of the Messenger.  What was Mary thinking? What would people say about her being with child out of wedlock? Gabriel, tell me once more what will happen? Who would want to be Mary? Anyone?  Hum, I wonder if Mary wanted to be Mary. Hamilton writes, yet with her head spinning, filled with questions, uncertain what it all meant, Mary’s response to Gabriel was simple and profound. She did not need to understand fully. Simply said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your Word.”  As we consider that moment of decision for Mary, we see in her a witness and example of how we are meant to live.  God’s call is sometimes difficult.  It may lead us to set aside our own plans. It may ea giving up hopes and dreams we have cherished for a lifetime.  It may mean risk.  It may be frightening.

Sometimes God asks us to be with people we don’t want to be with, to go to places we don’t want to go, and to do things we don’t want to do.  This part of what Mary’s story teaches us.  Mary is twice said to be favored by God, and yet God’s favor meant not a life of bliss, but a life of risk.  It meant have been hard to imagine that this was what it meant to be favored by God.  Knowing Mary responded to God’s request, we are inspired, with her to say, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your Word. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we remember the little town of Nazareth and God’s choice of a young woman from this humble village through which He would do His great work.  This season brings us an invitation as surely as Gabriel brought Mary an invitation.  Part of the initiation of Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, is to offer our selves wholly to God just as Mary did.  Are you willing to echo Mary saying, “Here I am, Lord. Use me according to Your will.”

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