Advent ~ The Second Sunday ~ FAITH

 

 

On the second Sunday before Christmas, I want to spend a moment talking about FAITH ~ specifically the faith of a young girl in a remote Galilean village over 2000 years ago.  Mary was very young - much younger than we'd like to think - when a messenger from God came to her and told her that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God.  Her only question was a natural one: how is this going to happen since I am not married and have never been with a man.  Once the angel had explained, she said, "Behold, the handmaiden of the Lord.  Be it unto me according to thy word."  How many of us could have said that? 

Contrast that to Zacharias who was a priest in Judah and had served the Lord in the Temple in Jerusalem all of his life.  He didn't believe the angel when he appeared in the temple with glad tidings.  No, Zacharias asked for a sign.  I am afraid too many of us are more like Zacharias than we are like Mary.

 

Faith is not knowledge.  It doesn't require a sign (for that would be knowledge, wouldn't it?)  Faith is complete trust in God that, whatever happens, He will guide us and in all these things, He will give us experiences that will help us grow, and learn, and even heal.

 

In these unsure times, we need the faith of Mary that the Lord is mindful of us; that we may approach each new day and each new experience without fear, secure in His love.   As I light the second candle, I pray that I might I face my challenges with faith as Mary faced hers.

 

Mary’s Challenge

Ages past there was a woman, who was lovely, young, and pure;

Called to be the Savior’s mother, gentle Mary was unsure

Of how this could be.  And she troubled when she heard.

But having faith she answered, “Unto me as is thy word.”

 

She must have often worried at the secret she must bear;

Of the challenge that was hers alone, though Joseph took her care.

The rocky road to Bethlehem must have been hard to tread -

And to bear her son in a stable with a manger for His bed!

 

She must have taken time untold to train her Holy Son

The countless hours she must have spent to teach this Chosen One.

For we know he waxed strong in spirit and wisdom in His youth

For at twelve, He was found in the temple teaching the aged truth.

 

 Did she ever tell Him, “Later, Son, I’m much too busy now?”

Was her temper ever short?  Did she ever wonder how

She could hope to raise this boy to man?  Or did she softly smile

Knowing He was God’s forever and her babe but a little while?

I’m sure when times were hard, she turned to those she loved for aid,

Perhaps to gentle Joseph, or Elizabeth she paid

Visit with her questions.  But her deepest inquiries

Were taken to her Father, oft’, in secret, on her knees,

I know He gave her comfort in her own Gethsemane

For she, too bore a cross of sorts that day on Calvary.

And as she watched her son fulfill his mission here the earth,

Did she remember Bethlehem, the stable, and His birth?

 Her life was rarely easy, but her calling was divine;

As is each call to Motherhood, which calls are yours and mine. 

And life’s not always easy.  God never promises us so.

But it is the greatest gift He gives, if we but only know

That these precious spirit children –each have an earthly trial,

For they are God’s forever and our babes but a little while.

Written as a gift to the Gilbert 2^nd Ward LDS Relief Society, December 1970

© Gebara Education, December 2012

 

Picture of second candle of Advent from www.stteresa-avila.org