What do we think when we hear the word favour?
Do we think of somone doing us a favour? A wedding favour? Or maybe a person of favourable disposition? Perhaps somewhere at the back of our minds we link it with favouritism.
The Biblical use and meaning of favour often meant gaining approval, acceptance, special benefits or blessings in response to a persons lifestyle or because someones walk is ‘blameless’ – what a compliment.
With these thoughts in mind, I was brought up short recently reading the story of an Angel appearing to Mary. The Angel’s initial greeting tells her that she is favoured because the Lord is with her. The Angel goes on to say, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son….” Mary is described as having found favour. God approves, accepts and is about to bless her. Indeed, after the angel leaves she launches into a song of praise. But in the days and weeks that followed and reality set in, I wonder what she expected?
If someone had described me as favoured, given my opening thoughts, and the Biblical usage, I think that I would have assumed that things were going well. That I was getting life right (whatever that means), that I could relax into what was to come. God was on my side and the future looked bright and inviting.
If that was what Mary thought, I suggest that she was in for a real shock. She became pregnant out of marriage and without even having been with a man. How would her neighbours, her friends, her relations react to this – several months of pitying, judgemental looks?
This…? This is the result of God’s favour?
As she drew near to the birth of her baby – cumbersome, uncomfortable, potentially fearful of what was to come, she had to set out on a long journey, quite possibly away from those whom she would have expected to care for her as she entered the unknown territory of childbirth.
This…? This is what God’s favour looks like?
And we know that this was just the beginning. Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her heart, and indeed it did. Mary’s life changed to one of challenge, probably perplexity, certainly not something she had envisaged for her future when she was growing up. Yet all of this was announced as God’s favour.
We don’t know how Mary coped with the struggles that came her way as the mother of Jesus. We don’t know whether, or how often, she wept out of confusion. We don’t know how she coped as she witnessed her son destroyed; but we know she was favoured by God.
If I long for God’s favour, what are my expectations? Do I hope for the deepening of my faith, clarity, affirmation, life becoming easier, more straightforward? Mary’s story suggests that it’s not quite as simple as that.