Trust and Faith

   “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”  (Luke 1: 38)

   Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel is instructive to us in our faith life and relationship with God.  A young Jewish girl contemplated what this might mean for her and chose to put her faith in God and His plan for her.  She chose to follow His will regardless the cost.

   The one who would be an earthly father to Jesus was also willing to put his faith in God.  Joseph had planned to quietly send Mary away rather than expose her to a charge of adultery.  Instead, he trusted in the words of the angel and took her as His wife even though she was pregnant.  He chose to trust in God and His plan.

   Such trust and faith are what we should be striving to achieve.  The trust to turn our lives over to God and have absolute faith that He will always do what is best for us.  To accept that our way is flawed and sinful and relinquish our will to that of the Father.

   The willingness of Mary to carry and give birth to the Messiah and the faith of Joseph to take Mary as his wife and Jesus as his son was the means by which salvation entered the world.  This is the kind of faith and trust that we called to.

   As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord let’s think of the faith and trust shown by the ones who accepted God’s call and brought Him into this world.  May the Spirit come upon us and may God overwhelm us with His power and love.

Lord Jesus, we pray for the faith of Mary and Joseph.

The faith to give ourselves totally to God.

To let the Holy Spirit reign in our lives.

To seek the will of God in all we do.

Amen.