Say "Yes!"

One of the “lesser feasts” of the Church is the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would bear the Christ child.  The Church remembers that event on March 25th, 9 months before the Church celebrates Christ’s birth on December 25th.  This year, March 25th happened to be Good Friday, which is why I completely forgot about this feast. Some who were more attuned than I gave thoughtful Good Friday sermons on Mary holding Christ’s body in various ways. Due to some liturgical gymnastics, this feast was “transferred” (a handy “churchy” term for moving a feast) to April 5th, hence why I remember it this week.

The Annunciation is an incredible moment of revelation and one that we should take note of each year.  After centuries of God breaking into human history with prophets to call the people of Israel into Covenant over and over again, it final becomes incumbent upon one young girl to offer herself in obedience to God’s call.  And she said, “Yes.”  Mary is worthy of our admiration and adoration for that mighty act alone, and yet we extoll her for her suffering, witnessing her precious child being killed by the very ones God sought to be in communion with in the first place.

The significance of Mary saying “Yes” on Good Friday is potent because it brings into sharp contrast the fact that Jesus was born to die – not because God needed Jesus to die but because that was the only way for humanity to understand just how deeply we are loved.  It is striking and heart breaking to hear that “Yes” because we know it is a death sentence.  And yet we continually need Mary to say “Yes” each and every year.
We need to hear Mary’s “Yes” to enable our “Yes,” accepting our position as the body of Christ in the world.  We need to struggle with knowing too often our “Yes” will be met with failure, disappointment, and ridicule.  Some may even feel that saying “Yes” is a waste of time since no one seems to be listening in the first place.

But we are an Easter People. We choose to shout “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” We choose to shout “Yes” because we can, we should and we must.  We do it not only to emulate Mary, but also to proclaim that nothing – NOTHING can defeat God, not even our own doubt and fears.  We shout “Yes” even at the foot of the Cross and at the crosses we bear in our daily lives because death was not the end.  It was the beginning of something new, powerful, bold. 

We live in “The Age of Yes.” What are we being called to say “Yes” to today? Perhaps it is time to invite God into our daily lives through prayer or reading Scripture.  Maybe it is time to make a commitment to God through baptism, Confirmation or another formation opportunity.  Or now might be the time to engage in a new ministry opportunity through the Ministry of Racial Diversity or Outreach.  Anything is possible.  All it takes is for you to say “Yes.”

In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

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