Greatness requires doing things today that your future self will thank you for, but most of the time, we don’t know when and how the work will pay off, so we have to wake up, show up, do our job with excellence, and integrity, and add value, sometimes not knowing what we will get out of it, when, and how.
However, common people do uncommon things every day, and Mary and Joseph were two common people who were called to do uncommon things with uncommon faith.
Their lives were forever changed when an angel appeared to Mary, telling her that she would give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. Despite the uncertainty and fear that must have filled their hearts, they both responded with unwavering faith and courage.
The story of how the Angel Gabriel went to Mary to tell her about the birth of Jesus can be found in Luke 1:26-38:
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
What would you do if an angel came to you and said you were going to have God’s child? What would you do if someone you knew, or your soon-to-be wife, said that an angel told them they were going to have God’s child? Would you have the courage or faith to believe it?
Mary's Courage:
Mary responded to the angel's announcement with faith and obedience. She didn't question God's plan, even though it meant facing challenges and shame. Her courage to embrace the unknown is a powerful example for us all.
Joseph's Courage:
Joseph, faced with the news of Mary's pregnancy, could have chosen to reject and leave her. Instead, he trusted in God's guidance and chose to protect and care for Mary and God’s child. His courage to follow his heart and trust in God is a testament to his love, devotion, and faith.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but doing what you know you need to do in the face of fear. Courage is knowing that God asks common people to do uncommon things. Courage is doing today what your future self will thank you for no matter how hard it is no matter how much you might be afraid and no matter what other people might think or say.
Questions for Reflection:
1 - What is your biggest takeaway from the story of Mary and Joseph?
2 - How have you experienced God's courage in your own life?
3 - What challenges have you faced that required courage to overcome?
4 - How can you cultivate more courage in your relationship with God and others?
My Prayer
Lord, thank you for the example of Mary and Joseph. Their courage to follow Your plan, even in the face of uncertainty, inspires us to trust in You and Your will. Help us to be filled with faith and courage as we navigate the challenges of our own lives. May we always seek Your guidance and trust in Your love. Amen.
For a printable PDF version of this post, click here: Mary and Joseph: Uncommon People Do Uncommon Things
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