Hello Everyone
MARY – A Lifetime of waiting
“Mary, Did You Know?” is the title of a Christmas song addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music composed by Buddy Greene in 1991. It was originally recorded by Christian recording artist Michael English on his self-titled debut solo album in 1991. It has since been recorded by many artists – more recently by The Pentatonics. Many versions can be found on Youtube or itunes and you may like to reflect on the words as you listen to the song.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you nw?
This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kissed your little baby You’ve kissed the face of God.
Oh, Mary did you know? The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb.
Mary, if you knew, how wonderful for you that he’d choose you to bring to us the King of Kings.
God bless you Mary.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding Is the Great I Am.
Mary is called to a task of gargantuan proportions. Her initial fear gives way quickly into bewilderment “How can this be?” and then acceptance “Let it be to me according to your word”. Mary may at this point have grasped the life changing significance of her calling, which few of us do when we say that first tentative yes to god’s summoning. She would almost certainly, have, grasped the immediate significance of her own personal disgrace and exclusion from the community in which she lived and deserves our admiration for saying yes.
Luke 2. 22:34-35 – When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 34 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed, and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
The words of the song ask Mary if she knew of the events that were to happen around the ministry of Jesus. From the time of presentation in the temple onwards, as Jesus’ ministry unfolds, we are assured that Mary would ponder them in her heart. Mary would spend her life waiting for the words Simeon spoke to her to come to pass.
A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
0vercoming the darkness of fear and doubt.
As we celebrate your birth
In the company of Mary and Joseph,
may we begin to see the world emerging from
the shadows with new hope and joy.
As you chose the poor and lowly
the outcast and marginalised
to receive the Good News,
so may we worship you with the angels and shepherds
In the meekness of our hearts.
As we draw near to Bethlehem we pray for its people
that they will know the peace of the Child born in their midst
and may share with us and all people the joy of this Holy Night
NEXT PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK WILL BE 4TH JANUARY.
UNTIL THEN KEEP SAFE- KEEP PRAYING
WISHING YOU A HAPPY & JOY FILLED CHRISTMAS & WE PRAY FOR A GOOD NEW YEAR
Peter
