“Let Go, Let God” – Luke 1:26-38 – December 9, 2007

One time a young mother, who was also a family physician, was on her way to pick up her daughter from daycare. She was late because a patient at the office needed additional attention. She was in a hurry and on her way she got stuck behind a slow-moving truck. The daycare did not tolerate parental tardiness. If you went over the limit you could lose your daycare privileges. But, she was more concerned that her daughter would be worried about her than the daycare center’s rules. The woman said a prayer that she would not be late. The truck was now on a hill and it was not possible to see oncoming cars. Suddenly, the truck driver stuck his arm out his window and motioned her to pass. She, along with seven more cars behind her safely passed the truck. The truck driver was a complete stranger to every driver that passed him. Yet, each one of them totally trusted their lives to the man’s invitation to pass.

How many of us are willing to put our complete trust in a total stranger, although we cannot see clearly ahead? Everyday, millions of people fly on airplanes. Few, if any, have any clue is to who is flying the plane but they trust that they will safely arrive at their destination.

The story of Mary is a story of total trust, first in the angel Gabriel, and secondly in God. Mary could not explain how it could be possible that she would become pregnant and become the mother of the son of God. “How can this be?” she said. Gabriel than responded, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Then Mary resolved to trust in God as she said, “Let it be with me according to your word.”

The story of the “immaculate conception” cannot be proven or explained. The ways of God are not always understood by us humans. How God works if often a mystery, beyond our ability to know. Rather than talk about what we don’t know or can’t know, let us look at what we do know. The first thing we know is that Mary trusted in God. Her famous words, “let it be,” expressed the trust Mary had in God to carry out His divine plan.

We know that the story takes place in Nazareth. Nazareth was in the middle of nowhere, a insignificant little town. Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament, therefore not an important place to the Jews. In Jesus’ day Nazareth was a small village, secluded, and not on a main highway. When Nathaniel referred to Jesus from Nazareth, he said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” His words obviously confirm the notion that Nazareth did not have a very good reputation.

However, God chose Mary, who lived in Nazareth, to be the mother of His son. Mary was young, poor and not yet married. Mary was not from an important family nor was she from a city of prominence. Mary was the “favored” one and she was blessed because of her faith and role she would play as the mother of Jesus. The glory of Christmas came from the willingness of ordinary people from ordinary surroundings.

At Christmas time many people are looking for something spectacular or something magical. We want to buy the perfect gift. We want our Christmas parties, dinners, and events to “wow” us. We are impressed with incredible displays of lights, decorations and all the pageantry of the season. What we don’t see is how God blesses us in insignificant ways.

In Matthew we are told that Jesus was of the lineage of David. When David was chosen as king he was a mere shepherd boy. He was the weakest of all his brothers. He had no military or political leadership skills. In other words, David was the most insignificant son of Jesse, the very one that Isaiah the prophet proclaimed would be the nations’ future leader of peace.

We also know that grace came to Mary as a total surprise. God can intervene to anyone, at anytime and in any place. I am sure when Gabriel announced the astonishing news that she had been selected to be the mother of Jesus, she had a look of shock and terror. The first reaction of us humans when we hear overwhelming news is to be totally fearful of all the possible ramifications. Recognizing her fear, Gabriel reassured Mary by saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Fear is a real whenever we encounter something we can’t explain. It has been my experience that many people minimize feelings of fear. Rather than give empathy or acknowledge fear, people tend to say things like, “Don’t be such a baby,” or, “quit being a chicken.” Mary was afraid and her fear was real, so Gabriel assured her God was on her side.

Recently I baptized a small child. The child has known me every since he was born. But, he was afraid to let me hold him for the baptism. Recognizing his fear I let his father hold onto him. After the baptism I once again reached to him and then he let me hold him. His father said to me later, “I guess the Holy water made a difference.” Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that the grace or God does in fact work in mysterious ways.

There is no situation where the grace of God cannot work. An angel of God can come into any family, any community or any nation with the assurance of God. No one is forgotten.

We also know from this story that Mary responded to Gabriel by saying, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary accepted her role and decided right there and then to let go and let God be God. At the time she had no idea that she would be making a journey to Bethlehem or that her son Jesus would eventually suffer and be crucified on a cross. She willingly and faithfully resolved to accept her mission with trust and obedience. There was no “why me Lord?” Mary said yes and God entrusted His most important task to a poor, young woman who lived in the middle of nowhere.

There are times when we are asked to do something that seems impossible, even overwhelming. We believe we don’t know enough or that we don’t have enough education. We are afraid so we miss out on God’s amazing grace. Saying yes can be risky, even terrifying. We therefore accept those challenges in faith, trusting that God will be with us.

Cathy Guisewite is the creator of the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Cathy. In the comic strip, Cathy routinely has encounters with her mother who is always full of advice. Guisewite once said, “When my mother first suggested I submit some of my scribbles to a syndicate, I told her I knew nothing about comic strips. Mom said, ‘So what? You’ll learn.’ When I pointed out that I didn’t know ho to draw, she said, ‘So what? You’ll learn.’ All parents believe their children can do the impossible. They thought it the minute we were born, and no matter how hard we’ve tried to prove them wrong, they all think it about us now. And the really annoying thing is, they’re probably right.”

The story of Mary teaches us that when we face challenges that are impossible that is when we enter into the realm of faith and hope. Like Mary, we have to overcome our fear and say, “Let it be.”

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio