Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 1:34 (New Living Translation)

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

This is a familiar verse and a familiar (hi)story. This little phrase summarizes much of our relationship to God.

Really, God. You can do that?

Yes, God can. Yes, God has, over and over. Yet, we continue to ask, “How can this happen?”

Can God cure my mother’s dementia? Can God remove mental illness? Can God stop cancer worldwide? Yes to all the above.

Let us, however, consider the big things. The really big things.

Can God have me look upon a stranger and see a loving, caring person? Can God have me look upon a, well, you know, one of those people at work who just grate me the wrong way everyday, and see a loving, caring person? Can God help me realize my blessings?

Those are some of the really big things. And I wonder, how can this happen? It can happen through God. God has given me what I need for these things that just can’t happen.