Simple Humility

"And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord 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, just as He promised our ancestors.’”    Luke 1:46-55

I find Mary’s response to the news of her pregnancy to be remarkably humbling.  To see the wiliness of the depth of her heart to rest and rejoice in the news of her heavenly father, even when it means rejection and shame on earth, is a tremendous display of faith and love shown through obedience.  I have to stop and ask myself, if God told me that He was going to bring His Kingdom to earth through me in a remarkable way but that because of it my integrity would be questioned, my closest family and friends would consider me a liar, and I would be rejected and misunderstood by everyone and everything that I have know up to that point, would I respond the way Mary did?  Would my soul glory in the Lord, would my spirit rejoice in God my Savior?  Would I consider Him mindful of me, would I consider myself blessed?  Would I call His name holy, would I remember His mighty deeds and the great things He has done for me?  Or would I wallow in my own self-pity?  It is easy to look back and rejoice and see God’s blessing, but it is not always easy to see it as it is just beginning to unravel.  What a tremendous testimony and encouragement Mary’s willingness to trust and love God is for me!

Lord,

Make me a humble servant like Your servant Mary.  Teach me to trust, believe and have the kind of faith in You that Mary had.  Teach me to love You love Mary loved You, so that my initial reactions to things are like Mary’s and so that my thoughts, attitudes, and actions express the love and trust I have in You.  You are a great God, and You have done great things on earth.  Help Your servants to remember this when You call us to do the same.

Amen