Reflections on the Call of Mary

Reflections on The Call of Mary

A simple young woman like you or I
Became the Lord’s servant without an answer for why
God chose her,
How was it that she was ready to give her all?
How did God prepare her life for His Call?
To be mother, nurturer, protector, guide
Yet aware of her need of the One inside
Her womb,
God and Savior, child and son
Messiah, Christ, the Anointed One
The Father gave her a gift of grace
To see reflected in another’s face
The joy of growing a special son
Away from eyes that would judge and shun
A place of refuge in Elizabeth’s care
Shared wonder that their sons were there
Inside of them, a miracle Heaven made
God’s reminder that “with Him nothing’s impossible”, conveyed
Then returned to the shelter and protection
Of a man, who though their family had begun without him
Surrounded her with the mantle of his name
Doing all in his power to guard her from shame
That others would surely cast upon her
He stepped into the place of husband and father
Though her child was born in a humble place
Their crude surroundings could not erase
The truth,
That her child was a King
God sent His angels to rejoice and sing
And from the lips of humble guardians of sheep
God confirmed her child was Messiah, proof that His promises He’ll keep
And Mary treasured these things inside
Where I’m sure the Enemy would have tried
To sow seeds of doubt about the truth of this One
But God’s purpose would not be thwarted for His son
For though to the Wise Men Christ’s resting place was revealed
From Herod’s murderous eyes His presence was concealed
What would it have been like to flee in the night?
To find refuge among strangers,
Did she feel fright?
Did she think of Egypt as a place where her ancestors were oppressed?
Or did she recall it as a place where through Joseph, they were blessed?
A place where Israel’s sons found provision for their need,
And how even there, in a foreign land, God protected His seed?
Over and over God confirmed who Jesus was
Through people and events, in the gracious way He does
Through Elizabeth, the Shepherds, and the Wise Men too
Through Simeon, and Anna, because God already knew
Mary would need to remember her precious little son
Was not only Son of Man, but Son of God, The Holy One
As she watched Him grow in height and wisdom, and watched Him grow in fame
As He began to live up to the purpose of His name
Did her heart begin to ache, was there soon a gaping hole?
As she recalled these words of Simeon,
“and a sword will pierce your very soul”?
Did anguish, awe, and angst continually fight within her breast
Did she wait with worry and wonder if she was up to the test?
To watch Him be rejected by His very own
To watch Him lay down His life for those who’d never shown
The reverence or respect due the Son of God
They deserved His wrath! Not His love, so pure, unflawed
When she watched His life’s blood flow for all mankind
Did she wish with all her heart that she had been born blind?
Though then her eyes would not have seen her son restored to life
A sight that must have filled her with a joy that redeemed strife
And so is the extraordinary journey of a simple girl who believed,
Who became a willing servant, and with open womb received,
The seed of Abraham, the Root of Jesse, Messiah, Emmanuel
Jesus, Lord, the King of Kings, Redeemer of all who fell,
Though mother of the Son of Man, she was child of God, rescued from sin
Though she gave Him life on earth, He gave her Life within.