There is a legend that says Mary was not the first
young woman to whom the angel came. But she was the first one to say yes. Madeleine
L’Engle imagines the conversation, how it might have gone:
“Are you sure you mean – but I’m unworthy – I couldn’t, anyhow – I’d be
afraid. No, no, it’s inconceivable, you can’t be asking me – I know it’s a
great honor but wouldn’t it upset them all, both our families? They’re very
proper, you see. Do I have to answer now? I don’t want to say no – it’s what
every girl hopes for, even if she won’t admit it. But I can’t commit myself to
anything this important without turning it over in my mind for a while and I
should ask my parents and I should ask my – let me have a few days to think it
over.”
Sorrowfully, although he was not surprised to have it happen again, the
angel returned to heaven.”
Last Sunday in our adult class someone voiced the
question: what if Joseph had refused Mary, or Mary had refused the angel. What
if God had to go out in search of someone else.
Who knows how many Mary’s there were who had to
have a few days to think it over.
That’s something we will never know. What we do
know is the story that is given to us in the gospels, a story we piece together
from Matthew and Luke, and a little bit of John. A story that draws on the Old
Testament as well, particularly the prophets of Israel. A story that has never
grown old, one that has inspired generation after generation to believe in love
and grace. A story that has inspired hope.
What we know from this passage of Luke are these
three things:
Nothing is impossible with God. This is what the angel Gabriel said to Mary. It might have been a
warning, it might have been a reassurance, or it might have been only an
observation. Between Mary and Elizabeth, it certainly seemed to be true that
nothing was impossible for God.
And, while we often interpret this kind of
statement in the context of stories like virgin births, Noah’s flood, and other
things that defy the laws of nature, it isn’t necessarily the best way to
interpret it. Tales of virgin birth may or may not be factual, but there is no
question in my mind that God made the impossible possible when Joseph and Mary
both said yes. And that was only the beginning of impossible possibilities that
we find throughout the story of Jesus of Nazareth.
God chose Mary, as well as Joseph. I imagine God
looked at them and saw some good raw material there. God saw potential in these
two young people, the ability to bear what would undoubtedly be a very
difficult journey. There would be nothing conventional about this marriage.
This family would not conform to normal, respectable expectations, and I have
no doubt that they were judged for it. Unmarried and pregnant. We have names
for the woman who finds herself in that situation, and we have names for the
child as well. And we have names, I would add, for a man who takes this woman
to be his bride.
I don’t imagine that Mary and Joseph had an easy
time of it. The culture would have been all too glad to heap shame on them. I
don’t know how they would have made it without the grace of God. And that is
the second thing we know.
The grace of God was with them. The angel greeted Mary, calling her “favored one.” “You have found
favor with God,” the angel said. “You will bear a son … he will be great, and
will be called Son of the Most High … he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” God is with you, Mary.
No matter how unfavorably the world saw this young
woman, she had found favor with God. No matter how difficult the world made her
life from here on out, she had found favor with God. No matter how much shame
or heartache she had to bear, Mary had found favor with God.
There is nothing the world can dish out that cannot
be borne with God’s grace.
And by the grace of God, Mary said yes. And that is
the third thing we know.
Mary said yes. More
accurately, she said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.”
And in this way, the young Mary showed uncommon
grace – but Mary is not alone in this. There are more girls and boys in this
world than we know who have faced their own trials and suffering with uncommon
grace. There have always been and there always will be children who live in
unbearable circumstances who somehow find the resources to get up every day and
take a step in the right direction. There are people who face what seem like
insurmountable odds, get knocked down, and manage, again and again, to right
themselves.
And there are those who are angels to them:
teachers and neighbors, nurses and coaches and others, who, by the grace of
God, see the potential in these young people; they see the glimmer of light in
them and help kindle that flame.
Somehow, in a world of brokenness, in a world where
shame and hate and greed rule so much of the day, God’s grace shines through.
Light finds light. Someone says yes.
Because nothing will be impossible with God. Amen.
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