Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
I have taken these words to prayer many times but this year it is a little different as we look at what is happening in our World today.
We know that God is with us but when we look around us, when we listen to the news, when we see children starving it is hard to walk in hope. Then I look at Mary who gave her unconditional “yes” when God planted the seed of Jesus in her virgin womb, she did not know what life would be for her. Would the people stone her, would Joseph abandon her, what would become of her family, how would she raise the Son of God? She did not know what her life would be like or how she would raise the young child but she said yes because she trusted that God was with her.
After presenting the child in the temple she was told by Simeon that a sword would pierce her heart and we know that she stood at the foot of the cross the day that Jesus reopened heaven for all of us. Through all of this she knew that God was with her and working through her.
These days I think of Mary and what is going on today—hate, violence, lack of justice. This was part of what Mary experienced in her life and yet she had hope. I know I also have to give my unconditional love to those I work and live with, and even those I do not know or like.
I look around and see that many children in our world are starving to death, not because of lack of food, but because people in power want more power, and won’t release food for starving children. And as Mary stood at the cross powerless to help Jesus in that moment, there are mothers today too, who feel helpless watching their own children suffer. Yet I live in hope that our world will be a better place because God is with us.
I’m going to trust in the Lord, I’m going to trust in the Lord, I’m going to trust in the Lord till I die. I’m going to hope in the Lord, I’m going to hope in the Lord, I’m going to hope in the Lord till I die.
Lord, create in me trust and hope. Amen.
Sr. Carole Eden Resident at Paul’s Run
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