LESSONS FROM MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST (Luke 1: 26-38)
The Very Rev Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye
Provost.
Mary’s day has been dedicated to Mother’s Union celebrating marriage and enhancing their commitment as Godly mothers and wives. However it is important to reflect , model and evaluate on Mary’s character in relation to the mothers Union members, as we celebrate today.
She was a woman devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Devotion is about obedience and faithfulness to God and our conscience. She listened and obeyed the voice of the Lord by faith and accepted to be the mother of the savior even when she knew her condition of virginity. Luke 1:26-38 ends with a great response of a God fearing faithful woman ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her “Despite being greatly troubled at the words of this angel, Mary’s response shows great faithfulness. She’s not afraid to voice her
questions, but in the end, she chooses obedience. Like Mary, we don’t need to have all the answers to say, “I am the Lord’s servant.” In fact, faith is all about stepping out in obedience even when we don’t.
Obedience requires sacrifice- Mary was betrothed to Joseph when the angel, Gabriel, visited her. Her pregnancy caused problems with her fiancé. Joseph was considering sending her away but God intervened with a vision (Matthew 1:18-25).
When Joseph and Mary take the infant, Jesus, to be presented at the temple, they meet a man named Simeon. God had promised this righteous man that he’d live to see the Messiah, and because the Spirit prompts him, Simeon appears in time to hold Jesus. Simeon prays a prayer of thanksgiving, and then he addresses Joseph and Mary: “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too’” (Luke 2:34-35). As Simeon prophesied, Jesus’s ministry turns Jerusalem (and eventually the world) on its head. But his last comment hits close to home. For Jesus to fulfill his destiny, Mary would have to suffer.
Sometimes walking with Jesus means walking down some scary paths. And it almost always requires some form of sacrifice-even when that sacrifice is simply giving up on the expectations you’ve been carrying.
Mary demonstrates the power of pure faith. When you look at her accomplishments, it might not seem like she did very much. But her obedience changed the course of history. Sometimes the most profound thing we can do with our lives is to wholeheartedly say, “I am the Lord’s servant and trut God enough to lead you.
God is calling upon us to uphold a deep relationship with him in our families so that all the mothers can be a source of inspiration to the world in terms of relating well with Jesus Christ. All married women should be prayerful, Godly and ponder on God’s promises, serve the Lord, work hard and be prayerful to the glory of God.
The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye,
Provost.