Mary’s “Yes!”
Discipleship Group Questions
for December 18, 2005
Scripture Readings:
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Discipleship Questions:
1. Please read the scripture passage above. On this final Sunday of Advent the Church moves our gaze to the Annunciation (I’d rather call it “The Invitation”) when Gabriel invites Mary to become a pivotal partner in Salvation history. The whole scene hinges around one word: “Yes.” Mary’s “Magnificent Yes” or what tradition has called her “fiat” which is Latin for “Yes.” This “Yes” sets in motion the entire Christian drama. Let me say that again, May’s “fiat” sets in motion the entire Christian drama!
Try to imagine that scene when the archangel Gabriel announced to a female Jewish teenager by the name of Mary. Discuss your reflections with one another.
2. As I contemplated these words I found myself then thinking of Satan and his reaction to them . . . When these words were uttered, I imagine that Satan threw back his head and screamed terrible terrible obscenities to the heavens - for he knew – he knew, what had just happened! He remembered God’s words at the Fall at the beginning of time . . .
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman – what woman? Mary of course! . . and between your offspring and hers; who is “her offspring?” Jesus of course, (Jesus) he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Can you see Satan shudder at the realization that this ancient prophecy was about to come true? Discuss what you imagine he was so upset about.
3. Please read the section in my sermon script discussing our concern over “Maryolatry” and discuss.
4. Please discuss the following statement: “Ah!! It needs now to be said that the best possible response to Mary is one that leads us to do what she did: say ‘yes’ to Jesus!”
5. Please discuss the following: “God wants from us that open-handed submission that trusts Him with our whole life and with the lives of those we love!
Think of how my many of our ‘No’s’ – our ‘denials God has heard this last week! Think of how unlike “Mary” you and I are every very day!
But what He wants from us is our happy submission to His plans for our lives and the lives around us!
He wants our ‘open-handed”’‘yes’ to all that He brings into our lives.”
6. Discuss how each of you can say more and more “Yes” to our God. How can we better follow in the footsteps of Mary? Discuss, if you wish, what we can regain by a more intentional focus on Mary’s role in “salvation history.”