Luke 1:26-39
“Even in Our Fear…We are Called Forward”
Preached Sunday, December 14, 2025 at Boardman United Methodist Church
Let’s talk about first steps.
My husband, Zach, and I have two small children literally running circles around us. We are always tired. The other night, right before falling asleep, Zach said to me, “When do you recover from parenting?” Not to burst his bubble of exhaustion but I answered, “I don’t think you do. It just changes.”
When little children take their first steps, you can move the coffee table to the basement. You can set up baby gates. You can put foam pads on the corner of furniture. You do what you can to limit the dangers, limit hard falls and tripping hazards. And yet they still happen and there are many times that you will scoop a crying child into your arms as you check their head for bumps and their knees for scrapes.
And there will come a time in their lives when you can’t remove the obstacles. We’re talking metaphorically now. You can’t limit the tripping hazards and the pain they will feel when they fall. And yet, you are still called to help them when they fall. To offer comfort, to be a soft place to land when they’re beat up by the world.
And this example isn’t just for parents - no matter what age you are, think of yourself as the inner child who is taking trembling first steps. Trembling first steps to follow God. Trembling first steps to change direction. Trembling first steps to do a new thing. Trembling first steps to follow a path in front of you that you don’t know where it will lead.
What fear of falling or bumps or scraped knees is holding you back from taking those first steps?
The Rev. Sara Speed captures this sentiment in her poem, “The First Step:”
“Watch any parent. It starts with the first step.
They kneel down. They smile with anticipation.
They reach for their baby, calling and cooing them forward.
And then before they know it, they’re running behind a bike. They’re yelling,
‘Keep pedaling! You got it! I’m right here!’ And they’re jumping up and down,
because that little red helmet passed the mailbox.
And then, just like that, they’re driving circles in the church parking lot.
They’re giving instructions about easing on and off the pedal.
They’re having conversations about curfew and heartbreak.
And then, before they know it, they’re standing in a hospital room.
Their heart is bursting. And they say, ‘Put her head right here.
Rock her gently. Do you remember the nursery rhymes?
You were born for this.’
The first step is always the hardest,
but you, beloved, were born for this.”
While thinking about trembling first steps, let’s turn our attention to the Annunciation. That is what we call this conversation between Gabriel and Mary in today’s Gospel reading. It starts:
And this example isn’t just for parents - no matter what age you are, think of yourself as the inner child who is taking trembling first steps. Trembling first steps to follow God. Trembling first steps to change direction. Trembling first steps to do a new thing. Trembling first steps to follow a path in front of you that you don’t know where it will lead.
What fear of falling or bumps or scraped knees is holding you back from taking those first steps?
The Rev. Sara Speed captures this sentiment in her poem, “The First Step:”
“Watch any parent. It starts with the first step.
They kneel down. They smile with anticipation.
They reach for their baby, calling and cooing them forward.
And then before they know it, they’re running behind a bike. They’re yelling,
‘Keep pedaling! You got it! I’m right here!’ And they’re jumping up and down,
because that little red helmet passed the mailbox.
And then, just like that, they’re driving circles in the church parking lot.
They’re giving instructions about easing on and off the pedal.
They’re having conversations about curfew and heartbreak.
And then, before they know it, they’re standing in a hospital room.
Their heart is bursting. And they say, ‘Put her head right here.
Rock her gently. Do you remember the nursery rhymes?
You were born for this.’
The first step is always the hardest,
but you, beloved, were born for this.”
While thinking about trembling first steps, let’s turn our attention to the Annunciation. That is what we call this conversation between Gabriel and Mary in today’s Gospel reading. It starts:
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’”
I want to focus on the words translated here as “much perplexed.” During Bible study this week, there was some sentiment shared about “much perplexed” not really getting to the root of what Mary was feeling. And I can understand that - I am often “much perplexed” when trying to solve the daily crossword puzzle or when trying to understand why the Instacart shopper thought frozen chopped kale was a good substitute for broccoli. No - “much perplexed” can seem like an under-reaction to an angel just appearing before you and telling you that you are favored by God. The Greek word used here is stronger than our English translation might imply. The Sanctified Art team offers this commentary on the phrase ‘The text says she is “greatly troubled”...suggesting not just inner disturbance but a deep, bodily dissonance. Mary is not simply puzzled— she is shaken, thrown off-balance, possibly afraid for her life.”
Mary is shaken to her core at the appearance of this angel, his pronouncement of her favoredness, and with what the angel tells her - that she will bear God’s son, the Savior of the Nations, the coming Messiah, God-Enfleshed, planted in her virgin womb.
Mary had real reason to be afraid here and not just from the out of nowhere appearance of the Angel - according to Deuteronomical law, an unmarried pregnant woman could be stoned to death in her father’s doorway. And even if there is very little evidence that they often happened, it would still bring her shame and change the whole trajectory of her life.
And so Mary says to the angel - “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
I want to focus on the words translated here as “much perplexed.” During Bible study this week, there was some sentiment shared about “much perplexed” not really getting to the root of what Mary was feeling. And I can understand that - I am often “much perplexed” when trying to solve the daily crossword puzzle or when trying to understand why the Instacart shopper thought frozen chopped kale was a good substitute for broccoli. No - “much perplexed” can seem like an under-reaction to an angel just appearing before you and telling you that you are favored by God. The Greek word used here is stronger than our English translation might imply. The Sanctified Art team offers this commentary on the phrase ‘The text says she is “greatly troubled”...suggesting not just inner disturbance but a deep, bodily dissonance. Mary is not simply puzzled— she is shaken, thrown off-balance, possibly afraid for her life.”
Mary is shaken to her core at the appearance of this angel, his pronouncement of her favoredness, and with what the angel tells her - that she will bear God’s son, the Savior of the Nations, the coming Messiah, God-Enfleshed, planted in her virgin womb.
Mary had real reason to be afraid here and not just from the out of nowhere appearance of the Angel - according to Deuteronomical law, an unmarried pregnant woman could be stoned to death in her father’s doorway. And even if there is very little evidence that they often happened, it would still bring her shame and change the whole trajectory of her life.
And so Mary says to the angel - “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
Let’s take a step back here - almost every single call story in the Bible starts with self-doubt, trepidation, uncertainty, or even downright denial. Think about it - Moses says he can’t do it, no way - he stutters. Jonah runs to the opposite end of the earth. Gideon said he was too weak. Peter denied Jesus. Ananias was afraid of Paul.
Jeremiah - who we heard from in our first Scripture reading this morning - said, “I am only a boy.”
“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’”
Some background on Jeremiah. The Babylonian Exile is when the elite or ruling class of Israelites was banished from Jerusealem and taken to serve in Babylon. But the everyday people, the people of no great political or religious significance were left behind in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was appointed by God as prophet to them. And a huge concern of theirs was, without the Temple and without the Ark of the Covenant - was God still with them? One of Jeremiah’s main messages to them is this - yes! God is with you always.
But first he says - I am only a boy.
To which God replies, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you.”
Today my question to each of you is this: What is your “I’m only [fill in the blank here].” What is your “How can this be? For I am [fill in the blank here]?”
God, I can’t do it - I’m only in my 30’s.
God, I can’t do it - I’m only an old man.
God, I can’t do it - I’m only a high school graduate.
God, I can’t do it - I’m only, I’m only, I’m only….
How can this be for I am not…strong enough, smart enough, powerful enough, rich enough, magnanimous enough, just…enough.
Where is fear holding you back from the thing that God is calling you to take first steps into? It might be following a call into ministry. It might be a career change. It might be retirement. It might be starting a new ministry in our church or in the community. It might be volunteering for a ministry or for a community group. It might be taking that first step to reconcile a relationship, to offer a hand of forgiveness, to say “I’m sorry.” It might be making a medical decision about treatment options. It might be making the decision to move houses or into assisted living. It might be following a passion, starting a new project, or putting yourself out there in a new way… It might be, it might be, it might be…
And here’s the thing - that first step that God is calling you to take - it might not be this huge thing. It might not move mountains or make headlines - but the Kingdom of God is brought closer to realization here on earth whenever anyone takes a step towards justice, mercy, and love. The Kingdom of God is brought closer to realization here on earth whenever anyone - whenever you - take a step towards more perfect love of God and neighbor as self. The world that was promised to us through the birth of Jesus, a world where all is made right, where “justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” - a Kingdom without End…we are brought closer to that day every time you take a step towards it. When you trust God. When you love neighbor. When you reconcile with one another.
Even when we are afraid, we are called to take first steps.
The past week I finished a fantasy novel called Spinning Silver and it had this line that resonated with me and stuck with me as I was writing this sermon. The character is saying all the hard things she had endured and she says, “But I had not known that I was strong enough to do any of those things until they were over and I had done them. I had to do the work first, not knowing.”
We might not know we are strong enough to do the thing God is calling us to do. We might think “I am only.” We might think, “how can this be?” But God says to us - “Do not say I am only…” God calls us to say “yes” even if our voice shakes. God calls us to take first steps, even if we tremble. God calls us to move forward, even if we are afraid.
Even when we are afraid - even when there are coffee tables with sharp hard edges or tripping hazards on the floor - we are called to take trembling first steps towards the new thing that God is calling us toward. The fear may be very real - and we are called forward anyway.
And so, back to Mary - she is much perplexed. She is greatly troubled. She is shaken down to her core. She asks “How can this be, for I am a virgin?” And then, and then - despite her fear, despite her self-doubts, despite her misgivings, she says, she chooses to say - “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” It doesn’t say her fear dissipated when she said yes. She simply said yes despite her fear.
And then, the angel departs.
I really like this poem by Luci Shaw entitled “Mary Considers Her Situation” that imagines Mary in this very next moment:
“What next, she wonders,
with the angel disappearing, and her room
suddenly gone dark.
The loneliness of her news
possesses her. She ponders
how to tell her mother.
Still, the secret at her heart burns like
a sun rising. How to hold it in—
that which cannot be contained.
She nestles into herself, half-convinced
it was some kind of good dream,
she its visionary.
But then, part dazzled, part prescient—
she hugs her body, a pod with a seed
that will split her.”
And in this very next moment - after the Angel departs, with all these thoughts flooding through her head, after she took the trembling first steps of saying yes to the angel and to God - Mary takes some other very important steps - she goes to Elizabeth.
You may have noticed our Gospel lesson ended at kind of an awkward place today with the sentence, “In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country.” It’s not even a full sentence, it ends in a comma - it was meant this morning to convey these important next steps that Mary took - she took her first steps of saying yes to God and her very next steps were seeking out community. She went with haste to see Elizabeth.
Maybe Mary went to Elizabeth for protection - away from her father and those who would throw stones.
Jeremiah - who we heard from in our first Scripture reading this morning - said, “I am only a boy.”
“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’”
Some background on Jeremiah. The Babylonian Exile is when the elite or ruling class of Israelites was banished from Jerusealem and taken to serve in Babylon. But the everyday people, the people of no great political or religious significance were left behind in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was appointed by God as prophet to them. And a huge concern of theirs was, without the Temple and without the Ark of the Covenant - was God still with them? One of Jeremiah’s main messages to them is this - yes! God is with you always.
But first he says - I am only a boy.
To which God replies, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you.”
Today my question to each of you is this: What is your “I’m only [fill in the blank here].” What is your “How can this be? For I am [fill in the blank here]?”
God, I can’t do it - I’m only in my 30’s.
God, I can’t do it - I’m only an old man.
God, I can’t do it - I’m only a high school graduate.
God, I can’t do it - I’m only, I’m only, I’m only….
How can this be for I am not…strong enough, smart enough, powerful enough, rich enough, magnanimous enough, just…enough.
Where is fear holding you back from the thing that God is calling you to take first steps into? It might be following a call into ministry. It might be a career change. It might be retirement. It might be starting a new ministry in our church or in the community. It might be volunteering for a ministry or for a community group. It might be taking that first step to reconcile a relationship, to offer a hand of forgiveness, to say “I’m sorry.” It might be making a medical decision about treatment options. It might be making the decision to move houses or into assisted living. It might be following a passion, starting a new project, or putting yourself out there in a new way… It might be, it might be, it might be…
And here’s the thing - that first step that God is calling you to take - it might not be this huge thing. It might not move mountains or make headlines - but the Kingdom of God is brought closer to realization here on earth whenever anyone takes a step towards justice, mercy, and love. The Kingdom of God is brought closer to realization here on earth whenever anyone - whenever you - take a step towards more perfect love of God and neighbor as self. The world that was promised to us through the birth of Jesus, a world where all is made right, where “justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” - a Kingdom without End…we are brought closer to that day every time you take a step towards it. When you trust God. When you love neighbor. When you reconcile with one another.
Even when we are afraid, we are called to take first steps.
The past week I finished a fantasy novel called Spinning Silver and it had this line that resonated with me and stuck with me as I was writing this sermon. The character is saying all the hard things she had endured and she says, “But I had not known that I was strong enough to do any of those things until they were over and I had done them. I had to do the work first, not knowing.”
We might not know we are strong enough to do the thing God is calling us to do. We might think “I am only.” We might think, “how can this be?” But God says to us - “Do not say I am only…” God calls us to say “yes” even if our voice shakes. God calls us to take first steps, even if we tremble. God calls us to move forward, even if we are afraid.
Even when we are afraid - even when there are coffee tables with sharp hard edges or tripping hazards on the floor - we are called to take trembling first steps towards the new thing that God is calling us toward. The fear may be very real - and we are called forward anyway.
And so, back to Mary - she is much perplexed. She is greatly troubled. She is shaken down to her core. She asks “How can this be, for I am a virgin?” And then, and then - despite her fear, despite her self-doubts, despite her misgivings, she says, she chooses to say - “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” It doesn’t say her fear dissipated when she said yes. She simply said yes despite her fear.
And then, the angel departs.
I really like this poem by Luci Shaw entitled “Mary Considers Her Situation” that imagines Mary in this very next moment:
“What next, she wonders,
with the angel disappearing, and her room
suddenly gone dark.
The loneliness of her news
possesses her. She ponders
how to tell her mother.
Still, the secret at her heart burns like
a sun rising. How to hold it in—
that which cannot be contained.
She nestles into herself, half-convinced
it was some kind of good dream,
she its visionary.
But then, part dazzled, part prescient—
she hugs her body, a pod with a seed
that will split her.”
And in this very next moment - after the Angel departs, with all these thoughts flooding through her head, after she took the trembling first steps of saying yes to the angel and to God - Mary takes some other very important steps - she goes to Elizabeth.
You may have noticed our Gospel lesson ended at kind of an awkward place today with the sentence, “In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country.” It’s not even a full sentence, it ends in a comma - it was meant this morning to convey these important next steps that Mary took - she took her first steps of saying yes to God and her very next steps were seeking out community. She went with haste to see Elizabeth.
Maybe Mary went to Elizabeth for protection - away from her father and those who would throw stones.
Maybe Mary went to Elizabeth for confirmation - if Mary could see with her own eyes that Elizabeth was pregnant, well into her pregnancy of six months, then that meant that this was all real, the Angel was telling the truth, this miracle really was taking root inside of her. And maybe, above all, Mary went to Elizabeth for companionship, community, wise advice, friendship - for we are never meant to walk this journey alone. We are called to support one another - to take first steps, and next steps, and walk with each other step by step until together we usher in the Kingdom of God.
And when we do - God is that parent, with arms opened wide in excitement and encouragement, celebrating our first steps - and walking with us.
So even when we’re afraid - let us move forward together.
Amen.
And when we do - God is that parent, with arms opened wide in excitement and encouragement, celebrating our first steps - and walking with us.
So even when we’re afraid - let us move forward together.
Amen.
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