Life is challenging! A pastor friend, Bob, learned that a key member of his congregation passed away unexpectedly yesterday and the funeral will two days before Christmas. The brother who passed away was a church musician and board member, among the best qualified leaders in the church. Negotiating the mix of emotions, reminding the congregation of the blessing of the Incarnation while leading the same people in properly grieving the loss of a key member is challenging.
Life is challenging! Another pastor friend, Abe, began radiation treatments and chemotherapy this week, right in the middle of Advent. Everyone is waiting to learn how my friend’s body will respond. If this were going to happen, couldn’t this have waited until summer when church attendance is usually down and the church calendar is a bit more simple?
Life is challenging! Another friend and former co-worker, Marvin, is losing strength as the effects of Lou Gehrig’s Disease takes its toll. I call and talk with my pastor-teacher friend, but only after praying because I have many questions and find the challenges Marvin and his family face frustratingly complex. Sometimes I think it would be easier if they weren’t such good, devoted and dedicated followers of Jesus. I just don’t understand.
Life is challenging! Victor’s wife passed away a few days ago. How does one sing joyous carols while the strains of favorite songs sung at a memorial services are still echoing in one’s soul? What is the appropriate way to remember a spouse and move forward? I just don’t understand!
If I were preaching this Sunday, I would use Mary’s song as my text, a song which exposes insights into how she negotiated imponderable and inscrutable circumstances of life. Mary’s song is profoundly important. Answers to Mary’s prayers become lyrical as she moves through a divinely designed path for her life. Mary sang:
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.
Luke 1:46-55
Mary’s conversations with the angel, followed by prayerful pondering, resulted in worship. We often commit energy and resources on arranging an environment for worship that includes sound, lighting, seating arrangement and special effects. From deep within Mary’s spirit sprang upward in worship. While face-to-face with God she learned, "He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." I have noticed that in positive circumstances and carefully-arranged environments some remain lethargic and disinterested. In contrast, when one wrestles with complexities and prayerfully ponders challenges at hand, he discovers "God my Savior!" As Samuel Shoemaker taught, "Prayer is intended not to change God’s mind, but to find it."1 Mary found God’s mind and worshiped!
As a result of prayerful pondering Mary was able to sing, "From now on . . ." Mary’s song is an affirmation, a statement of assurance and anticipation. I have a future! Others will "call me blessed!" Mary’s role was unique, and so is each of ours. The One with whom we converse in prayerful pondering is fully qualified to orchestrate our lives to bless others. We begin to live when we pray, "Lord, help me to bless those who you arrange for me to meet today." Let us live as Mary sang, with anticipation and assurance of God’s blessing.
Mary’s song is a record of the long track record of God’s interventions. The language is brilliant. Vocabulary throbs with strength. "Mercy extends!" He "performs, scatters and brings down." The "hungry are filled with good things," and he "has sent the rich away hungry." The Lord’s activity will continue toward "Abraham and his descendants forever!" Children of Abraham, let’s sing!
Prayerful pondering energizes while the challenges are still present. Mary sang her song well before all the angel’s promises were fulfilled. A long list of questions remained when Mary broke out singing, "For the Mighty One has done great things for me!" Townspeople still chattered away in idle gossip. Joseph’s family and friends may not have been convinced about the angel’s message. The Word had not yet become flesh. Little proof of the information to which Mary was privy could be validated. But, Mary knew!
It is reported that Winston Churchill convened a meeting of his cabinet the evening it appeared that England would be invaded. German bombs had pelted London, port cities and strategic industrial sites throughout the nation. Churchill withheld no facts. The cabinet listened to the grim report, and then, he leaned back in his chair and said, "And you know, I find it all quite inspiring!" That is the kind of faith that triumphs in times of confusion and complicated challenges.
Life is challenging! Let us ponder prayerfully. Let us engage the Almighty in conversation. By His Spirit we will learn His mind and face challenges confidently. Then we will sing! We will worship! The songs we sing will be enduring, as memorable as Mary’s song!
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