A Sunday school class wrote letters to God. On little boy wrote, "Dear God, We had a real good time at church today. Wish you could have been there." During Advent we are doing our utmost to make sure God is here in the midst of our celebration and anticipation. Reader, I invite you to take a few moments to sit at the feet of a young bride-to-be, who became the mother of God-Mary.
In the Magnificat, Mary proclaims, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed." What lessons may we learn from Mary? What might she say to us?
First, I believe she would tell us, "Life is hard." Consider this teenage girl, who is betrothed to be married soon. The anxiety of becoming a bride must have been overwhelming. Then, an angel visited her with an unbelievable announcement, "God has chosen you to bring His Son into the world through your body." She risked her body, marriage, reputataion and her own life in agreeing to this. Her delivery was very difficult. After a long and grueling trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem she gave birth out in a barn.
The difficulties continued in Mary's life. After the wise men came worshipping and bearing gifts, they were warned in a dream to scram. King Herod ordered all of the male children under two years to be killed in Bethlehem. Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus took out across the wilderness to Egypt, where they lived as refugees in a foreign land. Somewhere between Jesus' twelth birthday and the beginning of his public ministry, Joseph must have died. We never hear about Joseph again. Mary's life is hard. The final blow was watching her son die on the cross.
Mary would tell us that life is hard, but that God is good. Mary continues in the Magnificat, "for he has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation."
Life is hard. The effects of sin are severe. God is good. He sent his Son to be our Savior and Lord. God expresses his goodness through us, his church. The church is the expression of the goodness of God. We proclaim to the world the gospel-good news.
On Christmas Eve of 1985 CNN reported on two emaciated young men who had just been released from prison. They both suffered from the affects of AIDS. They were placed in a home established by Mother Teresa's order. Holding the two men in her arms, Mother Teresa was challenged by the reporter, "Why should we care about criminals with AIDS?" She explained that these young men had been created in the image of God and derserved to know God's love.
Life is hard, but God is good.
Peace,
Stan
In the Magnificat, Mary proclaims, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed." What lessons may we learn from Mary? What might she say to us?
First, I believe she would tell us, "Life is hard." Consider this teenage girl, who is betrothed to be married soon. The anxiety of becoming a bride must have been overwhelming. Then, an angel visited her with an unbelievable announcement, "God has chosen you to bring His Son into the world through your body." She risked her body, marriage, reputataion and her own life in agreeing to this. Her delivery was very difficult. After a long and grueling trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem she gave birth out in a barn.
The difficulties continued in Mary's life. After the wise men came worshipping and bearing gifts, they were warned in a dream to scram. King Herod ordered all of the male children under two years to be killed in Bethlehem. Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus took out across the wilderness to Egypt, where they lived as refugees in a foreign land. Somewhere between Jesus' twelth birthday and the beginning of his public ministry, Joseph must have died. We never hear about Joseph again. Mary's life is hard. The final blow was watching her son die on the cross.
Mary would tell us that life is hard, but that God is good. Mary continues in the Magnificat, "for he has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation."
Life is hard. The effects of sin are severe. God is good. He sent his Son to be our Savior and Lord. God expresses his goodness through us, his church. The church is the expression of the goodness of God. We proclaim to the world the gospel-good news.
On Christmas Eve of 1985 CNN reported on two emaciated young men who had just been released from prison. They both suffered from the affects of AIDS. They were placed in a home established by Mother Teresa's order. Holding the two men in her arms, Mother Teresa was challenged by the reporter, "Why should we care about criminals with AIDS?" She explained that these young men had been created in the image of God and derserved to know God's love.
Life is hard, but God is good.
Peace,
Stan
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