“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” (Luke 1:46)
How Mary’s heart must have thrilled whenever she thought about the new life growing within her! She rejoiced in God her Savior and acknowledged all the wonderful things he had done for her—and would do for her in the future. Mary tasted the love of God in her heart, and that love overflowed into a hymn of praise that has power even today to lift us up in worship.
Imagine how vital Mary’s “yes” to the angel was. Through it, our redemption—and the redemption of billions of others—came about. By this one young woman’s consent, the floodgates of heaven were opened, enabling all humanity to receive God’s love and to be filled with his mercy. Heaven and earth rejoiced at that moment, and they continue to rejoice, for even today we are reaping the fruits of her simple “yes.”
Being very familiar with the stories of her people’s history, Mary could grasp that God wanted nothing but good for them. She could grasp the way he advanced his plan of salvation through men and women he had specially chosen. Surprised though she may have been that God would choose her, she nevertheless knew that she could trust him completely. And so in faithful abandonment, in humility, and probably with some anxiety about the future as well, Mary embraced God’s wondrous plan for her.
Mary’s “yes” was momentous for the world, but don’t diminish the importance of the “yes” you can say to God each and every day. As it happened with Mary, this one simple word can open heaven for you. These days before Christmas give us a special opportunity to welcome Jesus into our hearts and to be transformed by his presence there. It’s also a time when we can bring Christ into the world through the witness of our lives and through our prayers of praise and thanksgiving.
So what are you waiting for? Your Father is calling. Say “yes” to him, and then watch what happens.
“Jesus, I want to say ‘yes’ to you today. I want to open my heart to receive the power of your Holy Spirit. Help me to trust, as Mary did, that you will fulfill your every promise to me.”
1 Samuel 1:24-28; (Psalm) 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8