Belaynesh Tadesse is the director of finance, administration and business strategy for the Asia-Pacific region of Habitat for Humanity International. Read their Advent reflect below.
Mary’s response to the angel — “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” — reminds us that faith begins with trust and surrender. Mary did not question; she trusted and surrendered. Her faith teaches us that surrendering to God’s will is the path to true hope.
Mary’s response also provides lessons of hope. She was humble in submission to God. She was confident even in the face of uncertainty and hardship.
She could have doubted. What if Joseph, the man she was formally engaged to, did not believe her? She could have faced public disgrace. As Scripture says in Matthew 1:19, “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”
Instead, Mary demonstrated that hope thrives when we trust in the power of God and the fulfilment of His word.
Surrendering to God is strength, not a sign of weakness. Mary knew that God had a future with hope in mind for her. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Mary was an ordinary girl from a modest town. God chose her for an extraordinary task. This is an example of hope for ordinary people. He uses those with a willing heart, regardless of who we are. During this Advent season, may we be attentive to encourage and instil hope to others in honour of Christ’s birth.
Lord, may You help us to listen to Your call and be willing to say “Yes” to be Your servant, to be Your light in this world, and to be Your instruments of peace and love in this troubled world.
