The Invisible Witness

 You are the invisible witness to the turning point in human history.  The angel Gabriel announces to the virgin Mary her role in God’s plan of salvation for humanity.  We repeat his first words, just adding her name when we say, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”   

To me this greeting tells of the first person of the Trinity’s immediate presence, like with Moses on Mount Sinai where He gave us his commandments to guide our steps toward our first goal, love. At Nazareth, he sent Gabriel to proclaim much greater love.  

 And the angel then said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?”  

And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”  

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”  

The Lord calls each of us to witness to his unexpected and challenging invitations. May our responses echo Mary, perhaps like Paul McCartney’s great Beatles song, Let It Be, the best Christmas song not sung at Christmas:  

When I find myself in times of trouble 
Mother Mary comes to me 
Speaking words of wisdom 
Let it be 
 
And in my hour of darkness 
She is standing right in front of me 
Speaking words of wisdom 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be 
Whisper words of wisdom 
Let it be 
 
And when the broken-hearted people 
Living in the world agree 
There will be an answer 
Let it be 
 
For though they may be parted there is 
Still a chance that they will see 
There will be an answer 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be 
Yeah, there will be an answer 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be 
Whisper words of wisdom 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be 
Whisper words of wisdom 
Let it be 
 
And when the night is cloudy 
There is still a light that shines on me 
Shine until tomorrow 
Let it be 
 
I wake up to the sound of music 
Mother Mary comes to me 
Speaking words of wisdom 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be 
There will be an answer 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be 
There will be an answer 
Let it be 
 
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be 
Whisper words of wisdom 

Let it be  

[Note:  My brother Jerry's Easter sunrise sermon was the inspiration for "You are the invisible witness" at 3:00 in Jerry Smith Easter Sunrise Service Message  or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6bDHhBspKo (starts at 20 seconds. Turn volume up to hear the tape in the YouTube link)]