Week 2: Day 4

Scripture: Luke 1:25-45

The story of Mary and the angel takes place within the ultimate equation of the scriptures. The pages are full of stories about before and after. Stories where the world or person or kingdom operates in a certain way and then a few little words come and completely change the trajectory of the story. Conjunction words like “but god” and “therefore”, offering a picture of before and after, are found over 3,000 times in scripture. All of our favorite stories are full of these conjunctions, promises bridging the former and now to prepare a way for the miraculous. A small boy turned into a hero with only a few stones. A man terrified to speak who became the leader of all of Israel. A man and woman banished and reconciled in the same chapter. Stories that many of us have heard our entire lives. Stories that Mary knew. There is a deep value in knowing the stories. There she was, unwed and unprepared. Young and terrified in the face of an angel. Greatly troubled at his choice of words and unable to understand what they could mean. And then... therefore. One word to bridge the before and the after: her fears and her questions to the promise of the Holy.

And everything changed.

“I belong to the Lord, body and soul.” replied Mary, “Let it happen as you say.” And at this the angel left her.

-Luke 1:38, JB Phillips

The stable is full of stories of a God who intervenes. A god who enters the impossible and creates a way where there could never be one. The stable is a picture of his promise to make rivers in the wasteland and to bring grace in the wilderness and fill the empty places of our world and our hearts.

Just when it could never be true, there is a timely placed conjunction and the “therefore” changes everything.

Prayer: 

Oh Lord, that I would belong to you, body and soul. That I would learn to see and trust in you, the God who intervenes in order to make rescue. Be the river in my wasteland, the grace in my wilderness. Fill my empty places that I might believe. And in my belief, give me the faith and the courage to mutter the words “Let it happen as you say.” Amen.