Homilies
The Power of Saying Yes
Mary’s Yes – A Model of Faith and Courage Holy Spirit, take my words and speak to each of us according to our need.
As we stand on the threshold of Christmas, today’s Gospel offers us a moment of reflection on the power of one small word: yes. This week, in this season of waiting, we meet Mary—a young woman of humble means—who says yes to God’s call. It was because of her choice to accept and trust in God’s plan the course of history was changed.
But let’s not rush ahead to the end of her story. Before the manger in Bethlehem, before angels sang, there was this profound, quiet moment of trust. Mary’s yes reminds us that God’s work often begins with our willingness to respond.
The Gospel tells us that Mary sets out “with haste” to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Why? Because something incredible has happened—Mary carries within her the Savior of the world! Elizabeth, too, is carrying a child despite years of accepting that she would never have a child, and now she carries—John the Baptist, the one who will prepare the way for Jesus and who now leaps for joy within his mother’s womb at the arrival of Mary.
Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary is an explosion of words of praise about Mary, and her humble acceptance of the role God cast for her. • “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” • “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
These words hold the key to understanding why Mary is blessed: she believed. Mary chose to trust God’s promise, even though the path ahead was uncertain. She didn’t have all the answers, yet her faith led her to acceptance and action.
I wonder if it is even possible to imagine or comprehend what Mary’s yes truly meant both at that time and for us today. She was a young woman in a small, tightly knit community. Saying yes to bearing the Son of God came with many risks—judgment, rejection, and confusion. What would Joseph think? What would her family say? How would her reputation be affected and what affect would it have on Joseph?
Yet, Mary didn’t let those fears dictate her response. She intentionally cast them aside and trusted that God would be faithful to His promise. For me this resonates with the saying that a journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. It is impossible to know and account for everything that might possibly happen in the future and that fear can sometimes stop us from even beginning something. Fear of failure, overwhelm, difficulties and discouragement. But if we can overcome that and take one step at a time, the arduous and daunting large task becomes a series of manageable steps. Sometimes getting started, or saying yes, is the hardest part.
Maybe it’s just me but having been here now for six months, that message seems to be one of impeccable timing. The future of this Ministry Area is developing and along with that are changes and decisions which may feel insurmountable as a whole. But if we are able to step back, regather and focus on all the skills, the talent, the specialities of all the people who are available to resource and shape that future, then moving forward becomes a matter of taking that first step.
Of course, we can’t operate independently of how history has informed, moulded and affected the past, but we can intentionally look to learn and discern from that and with trust, faith and confidence in God’s plan, small steps from where we are now will grow more good fruit. That isn’t to say that the past is irrelevant or somehow wrong just that decisions and choices made then were for that moment, in good faith and integrity of where we were then. And as Ecclesiastes teaches us there is a time for everything under the sun and everything has its season.
The world is not static, it is constantly changing. It is said of my generation that we have seen some of the biggest changes in history. Much to my children’s amusement I can recount how I am older than the internet, how I grew up before mobile phones and personal computers. But I am also part of the generation that embraced those changes and grew with them- Adapting to them and relinquishing what was no longer effectively serving its purpose. We have seen the best of both worlds and have had the autonomy to change and adapt or to choose not to. Mary also had the autonomy to make her own decision in saying yes. God doesn’t force us into being in a relationship with him, it has to be our own choice.
And here’s what we learn from her: Faith isn’t the absence of fear; it’s trusting God in the midst of it. Mary shows us that when we surrender to God, He can work through us in ways beyond our understanding.
Mary’s response to Elizabeth was what had become known as her great song, the Magnificat. And it shows us the heart of her faith. She rejoices not in her own strength but in the greatness of God: • “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Mary sees herself as God’s humble servant, yet she recognizes that God’s work in her will bless all generations. The Magnificat is a declaration of hope: God exalts the lowly, feeds the hungry, and fulfills His promises.
This is not just a song for Mary’s time—it’s for us, too. It reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways. He works through the humble, the overlooked, and the ordinary to accomplish extraordinary things.
As individuals within a large organisation such as the Church in Wales, it may be easy to feel that our contributions won’t make much difference and therefore not to even try but if a young, teenage girl can, with God’s help, change the world then who are we to judge what God can do through each one of us.
So, what does Mary’s yes mean for us today? How can we follow her example? 1. God Calls Us to Trust Just as He called Mary, God calls each of us to trust Him. What might our ‘yes’ look like? How can we serve our community, or step out in faith in a new way. Being a Christian is following the ways of Christ, it is about being alongside people and building relationships. Showing people that however they may feel about themselves or their situation, there is a space for them, just as they are in God’s church.
But God’s church isn’t tribal, it isn’t about staking claim to an area, a building, a tradition….it is about the people. How can we build those relationships that build each other up and celebrate all successes as ones of the kingdom, rather than build walls to protect things we have made fragile but may in fact be ready to bloom. Like Mary, we don’t need all the answers—only trust.
God Works Through Our Humility Mary wasn’t a queen or a person of influence. She was an ordinary young woman. Yet God chose her to be part of His plan. This reminds us that God can use us, too—no matter how unworthy or insignificant we may feel. We each bring our own light and energy to this Ministry Area. Perhaps we could recognise, share, adapt and learn from our differences and let them bring us together to create something new, rather than using them as reasons to keep us apart.
Our Yes Brings Joy to Others When Mary said yes, she carried Jesus to others—literally. Elizabeth and John were filled with joy at her presence. In the same way, when we say yes to God, we carry Christ into the lives of others. Our words, actions, and faith can bring hope and joy to those around us. May we be known by love! Just as smiles and yawns are infectious, so is faith, hope and joy. And much nicer is it to share our happiness than to keep it hidden away.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let’s remember that Mary’s yes paved the way for God’s greatest gift to the world. Today, God invites each of us to respond in faith, just as she did. As it says in Hebrews, Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who has promised is faithful.
There is an energy here, moving in this area. There are shoots of optimism and willingness to embrace change. It’s ok to feel scared, especially when the big picture is unknown but how amazing could it be to join in the journey to a rediscovery of a lively, active worshipping community which is at the heart of the valleys and a redevelopment of what it might look like to be part of God’s plan for us today
So what will your answer be? I’m here, I was called here and I have every faith that I was right to follow that call. I am excited about the future here but it’s not about me, it’s about God.
So may we, like Mary, proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in His presence. May our yes allow Christ to be born anew in our lives, our communities, and our world.
May I end with this prayer - “Lord, give us the courage to say yes to Your call. Help us trust in Your promises, and may our lives proclaim Your greatness through we do for your glory. And, like Mary, may we bring Christ to all we meet. Amen.”