On Possibility

Many have heard the phrase that “nothing will be impossible with God”. These revered words spoken in Luke’s gospel by the angel Gabriel to Mary are particularly present to us at Christmas time when we reflect on the birth of Jesus. Gabriel tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth who was thought to be past her child-bearing years is already in her sixth month. Gabriel offers this information to Mary as a kind of “proof” of God’s power and God’s plan for her. Gabriel assures Mary that there is nothing God cannot do. Many will nod in agreement that since it is written in scripture that all things are possible with God then, it must be so.

Yet, for many of us our sense of possibility has diminished in our lives. We feel our lives have been defined, our fate sealed. We rarely consider how powerful our Creator is. Our belief in the boundless creativity of our Creator has been challenged by our disappointments and set-backs. Somewhere along the way we decided how powerful God is for us. Over time, we set limits on how much God can give us or help us and we in turn decide how much we can give and how much we can help ourselves and others.

This has certainly been true in my life. I am so sure I know what I am capable of – what I can accomplish and what is beyond my grasp. Indeed, if all I had to depend on was my own petty strength my assessments on my abilities would probably be accurate. I am reminded how powerful our Creator is as I reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus. I think about the words spoken to Mary by the angel Gabriel “nothing will be impossible with God.” I notice that Gabriel says with God not for God meaning that when we act with our Creator all things will be possible for us.

The significance of my life has not been settled. My life is not a “done deal” rather it’s more like a work in progress. Everyday I have the opportunity to care for and cherish all that I hold dear. Everyday I have the opportunity to be the person God created me to be. With God, the possibilities are infinite.
The miraculous birth of Jesus - God becoming flesh - is my “proof” that God’s creativity and love is limitless and beyond my understanding. When I pause to reflect on this truth, the possibility that God can mend my strained relationships, comfort me in times of sorrow and inspire me to help others seems, well, entirely possible!

Theresa Wiss,
Director of Youth Ministry