Nov 30th, 2020: Christmas Blessings - Accept the Unexpected
Another aspect of Christmas is to accept the unexpected. It is the story of a woman who was waiting for her wedding day. She was about to be married to a righteous and loving young man. God had another plan for her at that time. God chose her to be Jesus' mother.
Sometimes I think we romanticize the Christmas story. Everything in her life changed. After being told that she was pregnant, which was God's divine selection, she had to inform her fiance that she was expecting and the child was not his. The account of Jesus' birth told us that Joseph was not sure what to do with the news and planned to leave her quietly (he didn't leave her). Just imagine the gossips and the ridicule that they had to endure.
Mary did not resist the unexpected. She was able to understand the privilege that she had in being chosen by God to bring Jesus into the world. What would be your answer to God if you are in her position? All of us have had to deal with the unexpected in 2020. We heard about coronavirus about this time last year, but we thought that it would not make its way to Canada. It was supposed to be just the Chinese struggle.
Some of us have had a hard time accepting the unexpected. None of us would imagine we are where we are today. If things are not going to settle fast enough, we will have more to consider unexpectedly. Would we be able to trust God and believe that He has a plan for each one of us, and He is in control? or would we rather fight to get our way?
The Magnificat - The Song of Mary
Luke 1:46-55 ESV
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”