Advent is under way. Christmas is coming. I remember one of my mentors in high school told me that he never wanted to let a Christmas pass without seeing and experiencing God in a new way. And ever since then, I’ve asked God to show me something new about the story, so that it never becomes trite, and our celebrations never meaningless. This year I’m drawn to Mary. There’s got to be so much more to her story than what’s told. It’s outlandish ever before the “Son of God” is introduced into the picture. A pregnant teenage girl in a Jewish community? If there was ever a story of rejection, this is it. As I wrestle through my own seemingly insignificant rejection narratives, I’ve been pondering these things in my heart…
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Mary did you know, or even have a thought, about all that would happen to you as a result of saying “yes” to God?
Did you know that the people had every right to stone you for being pregnant and not married?
Did you know that your own family would reject you because of what they assumed to be sin?
Did you know that your reputation — and everyone else’s who associated with you — would be completely destroyed?
Were you prepared for everyone to assume wrongly of you and not even give you a voice or opportunity to share the truth of what God had spoken to you?
How did you deal with that kind of pain? How did you handle the shame of others spreading rumors and lies about the core of who you are? How did you live in the loneliness of no one believing you?
Where did you develop such humility that you didn’t care what others thought of you, but only thought of how God would use you to display his glorious plan of love and redemption?
Did you know all this pain would happen even before the pain of childbirth, and before your son was nailed to a cross before your very eyes?
Was it worth it, Mary? Was your “yes” to God worth all of this?