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?