Obedience, Acceptance, and Awe

Read Luke 1:26-38

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).

Ireneaus, one of the most significant theologians from the second century after Christ, writes in Against
Heresies, “For as Eve was seduced by the word of a [fallen] angel to flee from God, having rebelled against his Word, so Mary by the word of an angel received the glad tidings that she would bear God by obeying his Word.”

Mary received the news from the Yahweh-sent messenger with obedience, acceptance, and awe. She had made a space inside herself for obedience and surrender to the will of Yahweh. With her eyes fixed in wonder on the Eternal One from time before to time after who could alone do this new thing, Mary accepted in awe that the Holy One would be born within her womb.

All of history was changed by this simple act of obedience and trust in the Father. History, too, can be changed as each one of us, moment by moment, day by day, humbly become obedient to the Father, trusting his way over ours, his plan over our purposes, and his redemption over our own.

Jesus modeled this perfect obedience in “being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). Like Jesus, we need to die to our own ways, our own plans, our own reputations, so that we can live.

Mary’s simple act of obedience paved the way for the mystery of the Word living among us in human flesh. Can we, like Mary, receive words from Yahweh? Would we recognize the messenger He sends? Have we made a space inside ourselves for humble and quick obedience and complete surrender to the will of the Father?

Do we spend time in wonder at the God of the Universe who became a baby? Do we marvel that he would be born in the fleshy womb of a woman, becoming like each one of us? Take time today to watch and wonder, marvel and listen, surrender and obey.

For Family Discussion: What are some of the good things that happen when we choose to obey God by obeying our parents, our teachers?

For Personal Reflection: What do you think gave Mary the confidence to obey this unique calling?

by Kelly Erickson