Advent Trail December 15th - Luke 1:38

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

Mary’s response to Gabriel’s remarkable message was equally remarkable. In humble submission, she committed herself to doing God’s will and to fulfilling the purpose which God had for her. She knew that she was “the Lord’s servant”. The word means ‘slave-girl’ and expresses complete obedience, for slaves have no choice but to obey their master. But Mary’s obedience was willing and voluntary.

Though it still took great courage. This highest of honours which had been conferred on her had placed her in a difficult and dangerous position. Pregnancy outside marriage would be shameful and probably cause Joseph to consider breaking off their betrothal (Matt.1:19). She would have realised that there would be a cost to pay but nevertheless, her commitment to serving God meant that she accepted and embraced the words spoken to her.

In doing so, she was unwittingly demonstrating the same obedience which Jesus also needed to give. “When Christ came into the world he said, ‘Here I am. I have come to do your will, O God’” (Heb.10:5-7). In the incarnation, both Mary the mother and Jesus her child model for us the response to God’s will which is required of all God’s servants, the response which we are implicitly making whenever we pray, “Father... may your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt.6:10).