There is in fiction an archetype known as the reluctant hero. The reluctant hero is typically portrayed as either a common person forced into surreal situations which require them to rise to heroism, or as a person with special abilities who nonetheless evinces a desire to avoid using those abilities for the benefit of others. Rarely does the person seek to be a hero. Often there is a period of doubt about the call into heroism. There is a reluctance.
In our reading, Mary is a reluctant hero. Despite the schmoozing of an angel, Mary is not too certain about what is happening, or the proposal set before her. She is told that she has been chosen to have a child, but not just any child . . . this would be God’s child . . . a savior for the people. Floored by what is happening, Mary still cannot believe what is happening and especially cannot believe that God picked her. Her response is, “Who . . . ME!” Actually, her response underlies her disbelief as she answers the angel’s proposal with: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Well, the angel is pretty determined. Explaining what will happen the angel points to Mary’s relative, Elizabeth . . . an older woman . . . who had been said would never conceive a child in her older age. She is pregnant and in her sixth month . . . with God anything is possible. I imagine at that point the angel gave Mary one of those looks that said, “So, what do you think? You going to do it?”
Out of her reluctance, Mary chooses to do the Lord’s will. She will step into being the mother of God’s child not certain what that will mean . . . what that will bring. She answers the angel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
We have heard it all before . . . this story of Mary. Barely out of childhood, pledged to be married, and probably not from the richest or most powerful family . . . she is chosen to bear God’s child. Not understanding why God would pick her, her reluctance is understandable . . . who me? Why me? She is nothing special . . . just a common person. In this passage we encounter the archetype of the reluctant hero in Mary. In this story we encounter our story . . . God choosing us.
Never in all the years of my ministry have I encountered a person who didn’t have some reluctance about God’s call upon his or her life. When God comes knocking on the door rarely are we yanking it open and inviting God in. More common is a response much like Mary’s . . . really, me? For the most part I think that many of us consider ourselves to be ordinary, common people . . . there isn’t too much special about us . . . at least in our own eyes. So, we wonder why God would even give us the time of day . . . wonder why God would show interest in us.
Yet, God does. God wants each and every one of us . . . God wants all of God’s children in the family. That is God’s desire. To welcome each and every one of God’s children into the intimacy of grace and love. God wants us to come and take our rightful places in the family . . . to respond to that invitation to come and be a part of the adventure of faith . . . to step up and become heroes who strive to follow God’s call as shown through Jesus our Lord and Savior.
So . . . why the hesitation? Why the reluctance?
I imagine it is because we do not look at ourselves through the eyes of God. Instead we look at ourselves through the eyes of others . . . through the eyes of the world. These are judgmental and critical eyes that look for weaknesses and faults. Eyes that put people up against a human rubric of value that is not the ways of God. Eyes that separate, divide, and destroy that which is not acceptable to those seeing. Too often we see ourselves in the eyes of others and often fall short of being seen as someone special, important, respected, and worthy of love. Through such eyes we wonder what God would ever see in any of us . . . wonder why God would waste time, energy, and desire on us. After all, as far as the world around sees . . . we are not anything special.
Why wouldn’t we be reluctant? Mary was.
Despite how Mary saw herself . . . how the world viewed her . . . God saw her and called upon her to come and join in the adventure . . . to come and be a part of the never-ending story . . . to claim her relationship with the Holy . . . to take her place in the family. God did not care what the world thought of Mary. God wanted Mary. As God wanted Mary, God wants us.
In those stories that use the reluctant hero as the main character, the individual chosen usually comes through. The individual steps up and takes the challenge to step into the role that he or she is called to. Yes, there is struggle in accepting the role . . . frustration in living up to the role . . . and, lots of anxiety seeing it through. But they do it. They do it not so much for themselves, but for the one who has called them to come and be a part of the adventure. They step up to the plate to take their swings . . . and, with God, that is more than enough. It is more than enough to respond to God’s call . . . to God’s challenge . . . by answering: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
The season of Advent is a journey . . . always a journey. It is a journey towards the gift of relationship with the Holy as represented in the form a small baby. It is a gift that invites us to step up and receive the intimate relationship it offers of the Holy. To come and take our place in God’s family . . . to accept our identity as a child of God . . . and, to join in the adventure of faith. It is a journey that we have been making with some hesitation . . . some anxiety . . . with reluctance. We know what we are being asked as God bursts into our lives on that Christmas Day . . . God is choosing us . . . calling us . . . to come and be a part of the family.
The question becomes . . . how do we respond? Do we respond with hesitation . . . with reluctance? Do we question, “Why me?” Or do we jump in with both feet, embrace the gift of love and grace, and follow God as Jesus has shown us the way? Do we proclaim that we are the Lord’s servants?
I guess that is up to each of us as individuals. It is up to you . . . it is up to me. We have to make the choice. God desires that we accept the gift, restore the Holy intimacy of love and grace, and take our place in the never-ending story . . . that we choose to follow Jesus through his life and words. God believes in us . . . do we believe in ourselves? Do we believe enough to set aside our reluctance and accept the call of God?
Mary had her reluctance. Stepping through that reluctance Mary accepted the gift, took the adventure, and we hear her story once again. The rest of the story is up to us. We proclaim, “Who me!” God says, “Yeah, you.” In this journey of Advent, we stand poised to respond . . . may we move beyond our reluctance and receive the gift. The ball is in our court and the day is coming . . . what will we do? Remember, the angel told Mary, “For no word from God will ever fail.” God never gives up on us even when we give up on ourselves.
Yeah, God choses you. Do you choose God? Amen.
Thank you once again, John.
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