Following Jesus means striving to be like Him

Good morning, happy Tuesday, and many blessings.

There are many viewpoints from which we could study the story of the angel's announcement of Jesus' birth in Luke 1:26-38. For example, we could examine what it tells us about Jesus: that he will be the Messiah, the heir of David's ancient throne (

1:32

), that he is of both divine and human origin (

1:35

), and is both figuratively and literally God's Son (

1:32

, 35). But I'd like to examine it as a lesson in discipleship, as a window into Mary's soul. She was Jesus' first disciple, if you think about it. What motivates her response to God? What is our response as disciples when God asks something difficult of us?

Before we can go forward, we need to break with the false images that we have of Mary. How old do you visualize Mary to be? We picture her in this blue garment, with a halo over her head, angels singing in the background, and the sun beaming on her face. We probably picture her to be in her 30s. All of these images are false. This is a normal, average girl. There is nothing extraordinary about her. She is not walking around beams of sunshine shooting from her face. Angels are not following her everywhere she goes. It is likely that Mary is a teenager and in her early 20s at the most. Remember that this is not a society where the woman stayed single until she found the right man and got married when she was 30 or 40. She is a young woman, and this stands in contrast to Elizabeth. Remember in the story from the last lesson, Elizabeth is so old she cannot bear children.

Mary was going to have to trust God with the details. A promise was being made to Mary that only could come true to fulfillment if God provided the details. Mary was being called into the promise; her part was to provide the womb that would lead to a legacy of salvation from sin, death, Satan and hell. God provided the details. Mary provided her life as real estate to be claimed, developed and turned into a home base for the fulfillment of the promise to take place. It was a call to provide. And only God had the power to do it and make the promise come true. Mary had the opportunity to join God in the call of Christmas.

What is Mary's greatest teaching to my ministry? That following God does not always mean a life of comfort. Now, here’s what we need to remember and something that preachers of the Prosperity Gospel should understand: following God does not always mean that we will have a comfortable life. It doesn’t mean that we will be physically prosperous and wealthy. That capitalist vision contradicts the Social Gospel of Jesus. In fact, Jesus said that we must endure until the end to be saved! Matthew 24:14 clearly tells us that.

Mary responded with trust and submission to God’s will because she believed what the angel reminded her of in verse 38. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.  Luke 1:38. When God places His calling on someone’s life He provides. I don’t know what He is calling you to this morning, but as He speaks to you through His Spirit, let me ask you – how are you going to respond?

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+