Improbable and Impossible

While it may not be as true today as it was back in the day when I was growing up, or in the day of Mary and Joseph, a pregnancy like hers was certainly the talk of the village.  Some people are always on the prowl for other people's personal business so they can use it as a source of conversation.  Or, gossip.  Surely, Mary must have heard her share of comments that were spoken just loud enough for her to hear.  Of course, Joseph did not receive a pass either. 

No doubt his dream which is recorded in Matthew' gospel is about his inner battle with his ego as well as his trust in the words of the woman he was to marry.  It took an angel in a dream for Joseph to know he could believe the incredible word Mary was telling him.  Mary, too, found her mind stretched to the point of disbelief.  She was young, but not too young to know about sex and love and family and babies being born.  Very little happened in that world that was hidden and unseen.  As she questioned the visiting angel, she was told, "And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren,  For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:36-37).   What Mary did was to go and see.  At six months Elizabeth's pregnancy would be no secret.  If she was pregnant, then Mary would have a piece of external validation of what she had heard from heaven.  

When Mary saw Elizabeth, any doubts must have flown far away as she knew Elizabeth's pregnancy was as improbable as hers was impossible. It is no wonder the Christmas season has always been regarded as the season of miracles.  Sometimes the things we face are improbable and sometimes they are impossible.  God proved in those days and in a thousand days since then that neither improbable or impossible can prevent Him from accomplishing what He sets out to do in our lives.