When our firstborn came into the world in May 1974, my wife and I were ecstatic. Our son Jeff was (and continues to be) a fantastic blessing. When the hospital presented me with the bill, there was a place for me to sign marked, “person responsible.” They meant only to identify the one who would pay the bill, but that statement stuck with me. I was responsible for a child. At 27 years of age with a decent job as a youth minister and two strong families for moral support, I had few fears about accepting this awesome responsibility. My wife and I had planned for this event. We were ready to raise a child. We had planned for this occasion. There were few surprises associated with our firstborn’s birth.
Mary was about to assume a staggering responsibility.
How different for young Mary, the mother of Jesus. I was in my early 30s before the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to Mary occurred to me. We know that Jewish women prayed that they would be the one to bear the Messiah. I wondered how many of them contemplated what risks, responsibilities, and realities would confront the one who was actually chosen by God to bring his Son into the world? Granted, it would be a privilege to bear the Messiah. But when Mary was told that a sword would pierce her heart, she was put on notice (Luke 2:35).
Mary praised the Lord God for the privilege of serving him.
I have read several sermons on “The Magnificat,” Mary’s song of praise found in Luke 1:46-55. The theme of this wonderful song is praise to God. It is easy for me to praise God when I sense a lessening of responsibility such as when I am on vacation. However, when God gives me more responsibility in my roles as a minister, professor, or church consultant, I find it is difficult to praise him and I think I know why. The times of greatest responsibility, the times when God calls on us to do more for him, test our level of commitment.
Mary’s level of commitment is exemplary; she praised God for the fact that he had chosen her to do the extraordinary. |L
Dale Holzbauer is a minister, adjunct professor, and a church consultant in Xenia, Ohio. He and his wife Beth have three children and six grandchildren.
