Mary’s Song
Imagine
that you are a young, unmarried woman in a society where virginity before
marriage matters. Suddenly, you learn that you are pregnant. This will
jeopardize your betrothal, your standing in society, your whole future. How do
you respond?
When Mary
received the news of her pregnancy from the angel Gabriel, her initial anxiety
quickly turned to joyful submission: “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let
it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). And later, when she visited
her cousin Elizabeth, she sang a song of praise, known throughout Christendom
as “The Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55).
Why, in
the face of coming trials, was Mary able to have such joy and
thanksgiving? In her song, we can see
her humility. She understood her lowly state and that despite this, God still
chose her for His great work. She was to receive great blessings and be the
vessel of God, an unimagined honor. Her wonder at His choosing and His grace
outshone all other considerations.
Have we
thought that today we are similar to Mary whenever we receive holy work or
opportunities for servitude? Just as it was given to Mary to be a vessel
bearing the Savior, it is today given to us to be vessels bearing the treasures
of His work. Like Mary, we are only broken vessels, made of dirt and
imperfections. How can it be, that the True God would use us in His works? Use
us to teach His children, to build up His church, to clean His house, to do
even the smallest task? What a wonder! What grace! How can we not praise and
rejoice?
It is
common however as we serve God over the years, that we forget the wonder of
this grace. We begin to see the work entrusted to us as tasks only, check boxes
to be completed, and time taken away from us rather than time offered freely.
We grow weary of being His vessels, and our servitude becomes a heavy and
unwanted burden.
When we
find ourselves in this state, let us turn again to Mary’s song, learning from
her attitude of humility and perfect submission. Let us learn to look beyond
obstacles, beyond shame, beyond criticisms, and beyond our own imperfections.
Let us realize that the Almighty God has regarded our lowly estate, and yet has
still chosen us. When we can see the great miracle, that is His work entrusted
to us, then we can find joy and our souls can magnify the Lord, transforming
our complaints into a song of praise.
Questions for Reflection
1. Are
you joyful in your servitude? Why or why not?
2. How
has God’s use of you as a vessel been miraculous?
3. How
has God blessed you in your servitude in the past?