Beyond the Yes
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The season of Advent begins with Mary and her “yes” to God. Given the emotional and theological sediment that has built up over two thousand years, it’s hard to grasp the magnitude of what was being asked of her. You’re going to bring God into the world, the angel said in whatever way an angel coveys such news. I have no doubt Mary was stunned, shocked, and scared in ways the Bible account does not come close to capturing, but it does contain the most important fact: Mary said “yes.” Because of her yes, the world has never been the same.
For years, I’ve focused my attention and gratitude on Mary’s courageous yes, but now I see that what followed it was equally, if not more, remarkable. There’s the yes, then there’s life beyond the yes. Mary is to be venerated not only for agreeing to go along with God’s plan, but all she did after. If only we could follow her example.
I happen to believe we are visited by angels often and they always seem to be asking each of us to bring God into the world in some way. It may be through an act of service, the creation of a work of art, the giving of a gift, or some other incarnational act, but the invitations abound. Many of us say yes in our own way, but saying yes is nothing to what follows. The hard part is life beyond the yes.
I’ve always had a thing for yeses. They’re fun and exciting, particularly for people with my personality. All the newness and infinite possibilities fill my soul like nothing else. My struggle always comes after the yes, and, I suspect I’m not unique. Suddenly, we find ourselves as uncomfortable as Mary riding on a donkey, as surprised by our surroundings as Mary giving birth in a stable, and as challenged as she must have been at the foot of the cross. Life on the other side of yes is never easy, never what we expect, but that’s life beyond the yes, I suppose.
Like God, life beyond the yes surpasses all human understanding, but, if we’re willing to go along and do our part, we might end up bringing God into the world, and that’s something that makes angels sing.
Think of a time when you were invited to bring God into the world. Did you say yes, or make an excuse to say no?
For those times when you said yes, what was life like beyond the yes?