Thoughts for the Day

And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we remember Mary, the mother of Jesus. Years ago I would hold a nativity play with toddlers and pre-school children and their Mums and Dads. We used a cassette that told the story and then allowed the children to act out the story while wonderfully exciting music was played.. The tape started with the words "Mary skipped down the street" and continued with things like "she picked grapes". We dressed the children, some as young as two years old, in appropriate clothing and parents helped them to act out the story. It was mesmerisingly beautiful. I lost this tape many years ago, but on clearing out my house ready to move, I have just found it - its one I shall keep!

We know little about Mary, except that she was young (which could be anything over 12 years old), and that an angel told her she would be the mother of the Son of God. However, we can learn much by her words and behaviour. The first thing she does on hearing this news is not to run away or refuse the task, instead she praises God and offers herself as His servant to do what He wants. Her humility is lovely to see, and because of this God blesses her.

This young girl, should be an example for each of us. She calls God her 'Saviour', yet it is she who will bear the Saviour of the world. It is to the meek and the lowly that God gives such a task, not to the high and mighty. True lowliness is something to which we should all seek, and we must start by praising God.

Heavenly Father,
we praise You
for choosing Mary
to be the M,other of Your Son,
and that in her humility
she accepted the task.
May we learn to be like her,
strong in faith
and trusting in Your word.
Amen.