"I am the servant of the Lord.
Luke 1:38
Let it be done to me as you say." I am struck by Mary’s Yes. Yes, despite not knowing the full extent (or really anything) of what would happen. Her Yes, despite a lack of a plan for how to accomplish the task at hand. Her open-handed, trust filled, expectant Yes, to allow God to work through her and in her. Her Yes that brought new life, hope, and salvation to the world.
In our own lifetime we get a million opportunities to do the same, in small and large ways. We get opportunities to bring new life physically to this world as parents, or when we speak out for life to bring that message to those who might be considering otherwise, or when we companion someone who may be depressed and feel that life is no longer worth living, or even as pet owners when we rescue animals that would otherwise be euthanized.
But we have even more opportunities to bring life to others in an emotional sense – hope - with our gifts of encouragement, support, affirmation, and love. We bring hope to the world with every loving word, kindness, and listening ear.
How this world needs hope! For so many, their lives have been reduced to what the culture says is important – success, recognition, power, money, being right - rather than what Jesus tells us brings life - love, peace and caring for one another. How many have their hope in these cultural prizes that do not last! They are often caught on a treadmill of working harder to pursue their unsatiable need for more and more, or escaping with alcohol, drugs, or pornography to fill the gap for what they are unable to attain.
Indeed, sharing our hope in the Lord is truly how we help bring salvation to the world, just like Mary. The world is so hungry for it, even if they do not know it. We bear Jesus in our beings and the trust and joy with which we live our lives. The witness of our lives, coupled with our words and our kind presence, have the capacity to share God’s message of hope with so many who are struggling, misguided, or unaware. We have a chance each day, each moment, just like Mary.
How is God calling you to bring life to this world? Will you say yes?
Reading your words reminded me of a moment three years ago when I was volunteering at a small community kitchen. I was there early in the morning, chopping vegetables and washing dishes, feeling more like a cog in a machine than a servant of anything higher. Then an elderly woman arrived, eyes bright despite her frailty, and whispered a simple “thank you” that seemed to echo deeper than gratitude https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game In that instant I sensed that my work, though humble, was part of something larger—an invisible thread connecting us all to a purpose beyond our own ambitions. The phrase “I am the servant of the Lord” struck a chord because it captures that quiet surrender I felt that day, where…
Reading your words reminded me of a summer I spent volunteering at a small rural church in the Midwest. I was assigned to help with the kitchen, washing dishes and prepping meals for the congregation after services. At first it felt like just another chore, but as the weeks passed I began to see the gratitude in the eyes of the elders, the quiet smiles of the children, and the way a simple bowl of soup could lift someone’s spirits after a hard day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(poker) One evening, after a particularly long service, the pastor came over and said, “We are all servants of the Lord, and every task, no matter how small, is a part of that calling.” That moment…
Well said. I pray I exude this kind of hope to people I encounter along the way.