Heroes: Mary.
Jill Weber.
Opening Reflection.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’ The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
Luke 2:25-35
“Mary didn’t only give birth to a child, but to a destiny.” She used the example of Billy Graham – one man who preached to 2.2 billion people and led 3.2 million to Christ. At his birth his mother had no idea! The American preacher, Robert Schuller, used to say, “anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God knows how many apples are in one seed.”
Are you ‘carrying’ something with a destiny bigger than you? What is the dream you are waiting to ‘give birth’ to? (perhaps a song, a book, an idea, a business, a church, a child, a ministry?)
”Mary taught us to pay attention to what matters.” Not noticing that Jesus had been left behind was perhaps not Joseph and Mary’s finest moment as parents, but later, Luke 2:51 says that Mary “stored all these things in her heart”.
Have you ever failed to pay attention to what really matters?
Can you look back to a time when your priorities changed significantly? What have you learned to pay attention to?
“Mary taught us how to accompany people well in their suffering.” We want to cocoon our children, but suffering is an inevitable part of the journey. A sword indeed pierced Mary’s soul as she stood at the foot of the cross “with her beautiful baby boy on display in pain.”
Have you ever had to watch your own child (or someone you deeply love and whose life you are invested in) go through pain, where all you could do was to stand in the gap between “the now and the not yet”?
The early 15thCentury mystic, (Dame) Julian of Norwich, famously had a vision in which she said Christ assured her, 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.' Do you think that is ultimately true? What makes it hard to believe?
“Mary teaches us relinquishment.”
What (or who) have you ever had to ‘give up’ and release back to God?
What made it hard to do?
Or, perhaps, it’s not over yet…
Closing Reflection.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion? What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
