"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:30-33)
The angel Gabriel delivers God’s
message to Mary, and it seems to make little sense. “She was greatly troubled
at what was said.... How can this be?” (Luke 1: 29, 34) Mary then listens to
Gabriel’s explanation of God’s will for her and humbly submits, though she does
not yet understand everything. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it
be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38)
Athletes must submit to the
authority of coaches and officials, though they may not always understand their
decisions. For Christian athletes this serves as a reminder that we are called to submit to the
authority of God. Even if the game plan seems
troubling and confusing, and we might prefer a different strategy, God truly
knows what is best for us, for he knows us better than we know ourselves. God
sees the whole picture of how each member of his team fits into the entire
plan. May our response as athletes and as disciples echo Mary’s answer: “Let it
be done to me according to your word.”
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