A Reflection for Sunday, December 22, 2024 by Eileen Lundy
Lectionary reading for 12/21/2024: Psalm 80:1-7; Isaiah 66:7-11; Luke 13:31-35
Selected passage for reflection: Isaiah 66:7-11
Read
Luke 1:38-55 NIV
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!
46 And Mary said:“My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Reflect
Just prior to where our passage in Luke 1 begins, Mary has had a surprise visit from an angel. The angel informs her that she will give birth to a son. This will be a divine conception and Mary is told she will give birth to the son of God. Mary has questions, she is a virgin, so how will this happen? The angel gives an answer and Mary consents. Mary says yes, may your word be fulfilled in me. In her body, Jesus the Word, is then conceived by the Holy Spirit. She says yes, despite the risk of Joseph not believing her and the risks of being rejected, ostracized from her community and considered crazy in claiming her child was conceived by God. Mary says yes. She submits as a servant to the Lord and says let it be according to your word.
Mary is not left alone in her yes, the angel also gives her the news that her relative Elizabeth who was unable to bear a child in her youth is now pregnant in her old age. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and the words Mary has received from the angel are reinforced by a physical response from the baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth, then filled by the Holy Spirit, offers words of blessing to Mary. The blessing ends with these words. “Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her”
In response to this blessing Mary gives a song of praise, known as the Magnificat, in which she magnifies what God has promised and glorifies the Lord for what he has done for her by choosing her in her humble state to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah. What she is asked to do will not be easy, but Mary said yes, because she believed the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.
I am currently in a period of transition and uncertainty. Plans to retire and move back to my childhood home are in the works and will soon come to fruition. I have also just received a medical diagnosis that will impact my future. In Mary’s yes, I find both an example and a challenge for myself to say yes. To say yes, to whatever the future holds both the good and the hard. To say yes and welcome with open hands whatever comes, believing that the Lord will fulfill his promise to be faithful and to never leave or forsake me. To believe that He who began a good work in me will complete it and to rest in the promise of God’s steadfast love that never changes or fails.
Beloved of God, the same is true for you wherever you find yourself this Advent season. May you say yes to whatever God is calling you to and rest in knowing He will be faithful and fulfill what He has promised.
Respond
Spend time in silence reflecting on where you are right now. What are you longing for and want to say yes to? What are you being called to say yes to? What are you afraid to say yes to?
What does that yes feel like? Is it enthusiastic, ambivalent, forced, hard, costly, reluctant or just the right thing to do?
Spend some time in prayer talking with God about that yes and listen for his promise to you.
Is there a “song” that arises out of your prayer? Offer it to God and then rest in His love.
Rest
God our Father, you are for us. Lord Jesus, you are Immanuel, God with us. Holy Spirit, you are God dwelling within us. Triune God you are always with us. We put our trust in you knowing that you will equip us for whatever you are calling us to. We rest in your promise to never leave us nor forsake us and we say yes. Amen
About the Author
Eileen currently lives in Omaha NE. She is a Registered Nurse employed by Nebraska Cancer Specialists. Eileen has a Masters in Spiritual Formation, a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and is licensed by the Evangelical Covenant Church as Bi-Vocational Pastor and serves at Community Covenant Church as an Associate Pastor. She is married to Steve and has three adult children.
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