Let It Be (12-20-2020)

"Let it be" 12-20-20 Opening Scripture: Luke 1:38 and 46-48 Then Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant." RSV The angel had come to Mary and announced that she would conceive and bear a child who would be very special indeed. The angel realized that she would be scared, but reassured her and told her to "be not afraid." She was a virgin and must have been dismayed that this angel would know about such a life changing event that would take place in her body. This whole thing must have been a mystery to Mary. In spite of her fears, however, Mary is willing to more forward in her life under this wholly new circumstance of being pregnant with child, a child the angel said would be the Son of God. Surely she must have been confused in the very least, for she knew she was just a simple peasant girl. She does not know what is in store for her. She can imagine that she will have to go through childbirth, a painful process indeed, but otherwise, she does not know what her life is going to be like. But... still she affirms and commits to God's will for her and in her. She tells the angel: Let it be to me. What an act of faith for this poor humble girl! I wonder how I would react in a similar circumstance. When the mystery of God's love breaks through into my own consciousness, do I run from it? Do I doubt my worthiness and my ability to allow this seed of God's love to be planted in me? Thomas Merton tries to describe what he wants his true identity to be when he prays and contemplates God. He says if it is true that at the center of his being, at the nub of his soul, there is a place that is untouched by sin and illusion, that very place must also be the point of pure truth that belongs entirely to God. Being in that place is what Merton says he seeks. Isn't that similar to what we seek? Don't we want to live in, or maybe I should say, live up to that pure center point where God resides in us? My challenge and maybe it is yours too, is to stop idolizing the illusion that I am in control over the events of my life. Maybe I need to recognize my poverty, my vulnerability, my smallness in the face of the challenges and realities of life. Maybe this is part of what it meant to be a virgin Mary. Maybe what it meant was that she was open to God's will, that is, she was open to be impregnated by God's will instead of always living in her own control. To make it personal, I wonder if I am "virgin enough," that is, open enough, to allow God rather than me to be magnified in my life. Sometimes I do not feel worthy of love. When someone does something very open-handed or open-hearted for me I wonder if I deserve it. I feel humbled by the generosity. When I was working I received a prestigious award granted to me by my peers. I remember how unworthy, small, and unmeritorious I felt. I was humbled by the gesture. I wonder if Mary might have felt the same way when the angel announced God's overshadowing love for her by making her the mother of his Son. "Jesus represents the total givenness of God to creation." Maybe simple humble Mary represents humanity in a sense, in that she shows us how a gift is to be received. She says that her soul simply magnifies God. She tells us and shows us how great God is, how generous and completely loving he is. This might be why so many Christians love Mary. She was open to all that might happen to her and her child. And she said "Let it be." Maybe Mary's prayer shows us what our attitude and posture should be at Christmas, at any time, really, when we receive a great gift: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant." When we can take this attitude, maybe we will be truly ready for Christmas. Based largely on the daily meditation of December 8, 2020 from the Center for Action and Contemplation: "Giving Birth to Christ." Questions and Challenges * How do you feel when you receive a gift of great generosity and love? Do you think about whether or not you are worthy? * What can we learn from Mary about receiving God's incredible gifts and about our need for control in our life? * How do you think your soul magnifies the Lord? Prayer: Lord help me to be open-handed and open-hearted in this season. Help me to say Let it be in the face of generosity and love and when I am challenged to do your will rather than my own. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.