As we remember St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord, we read a devotion from The Heart of Jesus: Women in the Gospel of Luke.
Isaiah 61:7–11
Psalm 45:10–17
Galatians 4:4–7
Luke 1:39–55
Imagine becoming the earthly mother of the only Son of God! The challenge of raising any child can be overwhelming, but this baby, miraculously conceived, was both human and divine. He was the Son of God, sent to save the world. He was the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to His people. How could a mere teenager with little experience in life hope to adequately mother the Son of God? How Mary must have prayed and clung to her faith as she replayed the angel’s message over and over again in her mind. Scripture says she kept all these things in her heart and pondered them (Luke 2:19). And it’s no wonder!
Nevertheless, as predicted (v. 35), Mary’s life would prove difficult. Her unexpected pregnancy and her baby’s birth in an animal shelter were only the beginning. Mary, Joseph, and the child Jesus would face the threat of death from insanely jealous King Herod (Matthew 2:1–12). Mary would suffer the anguish of losing her twelve-year-old son, and three days would pass before she received any word of His whereabouts or safety (Luke 2:41–51).
After He had grown to adulthood, she would hear about Him teaching things that angered hearers. At one point, her neighbors would even try to murder Him by throwing Him off a nearby cliff (Luke 4:28–30). Worst of all, she would watch as He died an excruciating death. No mother expects a child to die before she does, and certainly not in such a horrible manner!
But there would also be marvelous reassurances as well. The visits of the angels. The story of the shepherds. The adoration of the Magi. Jesus’ amazing miracles. His resurrection. Strengthened by the same Holy Spirit who caused her miraculously to conceive, Mary remained steadfast as she kept thinking about all these things.
When hills look too monstrous to climb, when goals look unachievable, walk with me, Lord. Send Your Holy Spirit to increase my faith and trust in You. Even as You have sent Jesus to conquer the giants of sin and the grave, You have promised to strengthen me for the giants and hills I face daily. In the name of Jesus Christ, who gives me strength. Amen.
Devotional reading is from The Heart of Jesus: Women in the Gospel of Luke, page 34 © 2009 Marlys Taege Moberg. Published by Concordia Publishing House.
Prayer is from Thread of Hope, page 23 © 2001 Faye Hill Thompson. Published by Concordia Publishing House.