I pray that you and yours are well in this season of preparation: for the celebration of Christmas and also of your heart for conversion by God. Yes, the conversion of your heart and mine, so that God has more room in our lives and we have that deep sense of peace that God is with us and has an important purpose for our lives.

 

The little piece of scripture quoted above are Mary's parting words to the angel who just announced to her that she would bear God to the world. The strength of Mary's words reflect the deep courage it requires to allow God to convert a heart for His presence to come into someone's life and to know that everything will be different from that moment on. We don't know that Mary was anything other than a normal young woman. She may have been a religious or spiritual person. We don't know. She may have been a kind and thoughtful person. We don't know. She may have been an excitable young woman. We don't know.

 

We do know that she was courageous. We learn that when the angel came to inform her of God's plan for the life of the world, and the role Mary would play. I am sure she experienced doubt and wonder about God choosing her, but it didn't overwhelm her courage. Mary's courageous choice meant that everything would be different from then on. A child would grow inside her, one who would grow up to be the Savior of the world. Her courage to trust in God and His plan meant that the broken world would be offered healing; that sins would be overcome by grace; that we would see the face of God in a form we could comprehend - and that it would be a face of love and mercy and purpose. Mary's courage opened the way for her to "go all in" with God - and the world has never been the same.

 

Courage made all the difference, and what is true of Mary is true for each one of us.

 

God has given us the courage, to various degrees, to "go all in" with Him, and we need only pray and choose to exercise that gift. When we do - when we summon our own gift of courage - God will enter into our lives and we, too, can bear the Savior to the world. No, we do not need to give birth to a child. We can give birth to the presence and power of God to work in us and through us to help Him change and transform the world. When we summon our courage, God will convert our hearts and we will enter into an adventure and a life that is far greater than any other life we know.

 

So, as we all prepare for the celebration of Christmas this year, let me invite all of us to summon our courage as God's servants and be partners with Him in bringing Christ into the world.

See you at the Christmas Pageants and Church.

 

Grace, Peace and Courage.