Surrender - It's Not About Waiving a White Flag

“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!” - St. John Paul II

As we begin the season of Advent today, let us reflect on what it means to surrender. The greatest example we have of what it means to surrender is the story of the nativity with the conception and birth of Jesus Christ.

According to Luke chapter 1, Mary is going about her daily business, when a man she doesn't recognize enters and gives her a weird greeting. She's a bit confused by him and what he's telling her about God favoring her. I'm sure she's thinking, who are you and what are you talking about?! Then he goes on to tell her that she will become pregnant and it will be by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Her child shall become Jesus, the savior of the world. I think at this point she realizes he's an angel that is relaying this information to her. She's so trusting of God's will that she only asks one question: How can I get pregnant when I haven't had relations with a man? Solid question if there ever was one. Once, he gives her the answer, she doesn't have to even take a moment to think about her choice. She just says, may God's will be done. Period. End of...

How many of us immediately answer the call of God without even taking a moment to discern? Just say, your will, not mine. How many of us have that kind of faith required to give no further thought to how a choice like that might change our lives, and have the fortitude to see that choice through. As normal, everyday humans, we like to think we are in control of our lives. We have to evaluate and weigh all our major life changing decisions. And that's when we hear God's call clearly. How often do we even hear the voice of God telling us to do something. He's that still small voice, not usually a loud booming thunder. He's not often an angel making a pronouncement, but more a quiet nudge in the right direction.

The bible then in the next paragraph has her visiting her sister. I think that the reality of her situation didn't really sink in, until her sister and the baby greeted her in such a way that they recognized her condition. I bet she had lots of questions for her sister that day about what to expect as she was expecting.

The bible also mentions that she was engaged to be married, but was not yet married when this all happened. Here's the thing, back then in their culture, sex outside of marriage was reason for a woman to become disgraced, her reputation ruined and any marriage prospects would disappear. She knew her culture and the consequences of being considered a 'loose' woman. She still, without further thought, trusted in God enough to say, your will be done. She instinctively knew God would take care of her. Though she didn't know how she would explain a pregnancy to her fiancé, Joseph. Really, how do you you tell your almost husband, "Yeah, I know I'm pregnant. But I didn't sleep with any one. It just happened."

Her marriage to Joseph was an advantageous marriage for her too. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, Mary's family was no one of consequence. They were just like any of the rest of us. Joseph's however, well he was of the royal line of King David. Think of it like this, in Russia, the Romanov family are the royals that would be heirs to the throne, if they hadn't been taken over by the communist party in the early 1900's. But, we all still know the family name. And if they were to ever re-instate the monarchy, someone of their family would be first in line to that throne. This is the same situation as Joseph's family. They were the Romanov's of ancient Israel. If they were to re-instate the throne of Israel, Joseph would have been the one made king. So, by Mary trusting in God's will, she knowingly put all this in jeopardy.

According to Matthew chapter 1, Joseph, being the kind man he was, didn't want to allow her to fall into disgrace, so he planned to secretly send her away. He didn't believe her not to be carrying another man's baby. Who can blame him? How many other women do you know who get pregnant without sex? It's pretty common knowledge that you do the deed, you can pay the consequences. Though, he didn't want her to come to harm, he also didn't want to raise another man's child.

It wasn't until another angel visited him in a dream, and confirmed what his fiancé had told him, that he finally believed. Mary and Joseph weren't extraordinary people. They couldn't run super fast. They didn't have X-ray vision. They were normal humans like each and every one of us. What they did have, was extraordinary faith and trust in God. As soon as God called them, they said, yes. They didn't fear the consequences. They didn't know how things would turn out. They didn't try and control the situation. They just said, yes.

They said, yes, even when they knew it would change everything for them. They said yes, even if it meant they could be sent away in disgrace. They said yes, even if they didn't have a good explanation for their actions or situation.

They surrendered their will to God. They gave Him the control, and trusted that if He called them, then he would provide for them. He would work things out in their favor, and make sure everything would be ok. It doesn't mean the journey would be easy. We'll go into that a bit more in the next week or so. But, with God in control, they would make it through to the other side, and the rewards would be worth it, in this life or the next.

What will it take for you to say, Yes! to God's call?