Weekly Sermon Notes
Dec 28, 2025
Fear, Wonder, and the Courage to Say Yes
In the third week of our Advent series, “What Do You Fear?” we explored how fear functions not as a failure of faith but as a companion on the journey of faith. People of faith, both in Jesus’s time and today, do not live without fear; rather, we learn to live faithfully with fear instead of in fear. Mary’s story reminded us that divine encounters often come wrapped in uncertainty and questions.
Our scripture from Luke 1:26-39 presented the angel's annunciation to Mary that she would bear Jesus into the world. While many English translations say she was “much perplexed,” the Greek word diatarassō tells a different story—one of deep terror, emotional upheaval, and profound disorientation. Yet Mary is anything but “meek and mild.” Her later song, the Magnificat, reveals a bold, revolutionary spirit proclaiming God’s justice. In the angel’s presence, she does not collapse or submit passively. Instead, she asks honest, discerning questions—“How can this be?”—engaging the mystery with courage and clarity.
We reflected that God does not shame Mary’s fear but meets it with reassurance and companionship. Mary ultimately says yes—not out of passive obedience but out of vulnerable, consenting courage. She steps into God’s calling with eyes open, trusting that God will provide the support she needs. Indeed, the angel immediately points her toward Elizabeth and her faith community, reminding us that courage is communal—we are never meant to walk God’s calling alone.
Finally, we asked ourselves the Advent questions: What do you fear? What divine invitation might you be resisting? And what joy might you be denying yourself—and the world—by staying where it feels safer? Mary teaches us that courage doesn’t mean being unafraid. It means listening for God’s “Do not be afraid,” and trusting God to meet us with strength, companions, and joy for the journey ahead. May our own yes, like Mary’s, become a blessing the world has been waiting for.