Stewardship and Leadership
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:38)
You are warmly welcome!
Today is a special day to commemorate Mary the mother of Jesus. I will draw from two instances where she sets a great example of stewardship and leadership. But before going that far, it is an opportunity to celebrate our dear mothers who play a unique and essential role in our lives. I have clear memories of my own mother disciplining me as a child, taking us to the garden, and to the market to assist on her stall, teaching me how to bake cakes and chapatti and sell them, visiting me at school, teaching us to read the Bible and pray – lots of memories; and she still so cares even today! My father and mother work together on all these things, but today’s opportunity to celebrate the mothers could just not pass me by. All of us have profound testimonies about that special woman who mothered you: We praise the Lord for these dear women of great value.
Mary’s story unfolds when she is in a conversation with an Angel; the messenger from the Lord had brought an assignment from the Lord. Yours may not have been brought by Angel Gabriel in the spectacular manner that Mary experienced, but you too for certain have an assignment from the Lord. What is your assignment? Whether you accept it like Mary or not, you are the Lord’s servant; that’s what we have been created for. Mary’s example is one of loyal submission. When you hear the Lord’s call, do not harden your heart; this may be in your ‘secular’ job – how you should transact to honour the Lord, or in your voluntary service in Church or elsewhere. The question of your assignment from the Lord is not to be ignored.
The second Mary instance was at Cana of Galilee: She noticed a crisis to which she wanted to contribute a solution; there was no more wine and while joy was fading and the party could easily end prematurely, there was a looming embarrassment as well! The crises in our world today call for us to follow Mary’s example and not just turn a deaf ear and a blind eye, but notice and point out these difficulties to Jesus Christ. You may not have the solution, but you can point them to the solution. This is good stewardship and leadership. After some negotiations, the problem was no more. Hard work and good stewardship brings satisfaction, confidence, health and joy. After Mary’s example, may the Lord help us to continually be good and faithful servants.
God bless you!