BEYOND WORDS

Luke 1:29-30 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

Mary’s response to the words of the Angel Gabriel catch our attention. Following the introductory salutation, her response was one that was not with words, but in silence “she tried to discern what the greeting was”. Her pondering in mind were reponsded to as though she spoke words. A similar event is recorded when Joseph was pondering on secretly breaking his betrothal to Mary in Matthew’s Gospel 1:20 – He was visited in a dream.

The texts coming to mind are those of St Paul in Ephesians 3:20’God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ‘ask or think’ and the Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the medications of my heart be acceptable in thy sight”

There is a surely a place for words in communication, but there is equally another place where it becomes a matter of heart. Words aren’t needed, yet volumes are communicated and God can hear both forms of communication because he searches the heart, and tries its reins.

He is well aware that we could be honouring with our lips but situate our our hearts far away. We could be bowed down physically, but be standing tall in our heart. Prayer then, does not become only about words, but the heart and mind have to travel with. Both can speak volumes.

#sly