“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done unto me according to your word.”
Handmaids of the Lord…what does that mean? Lately I’ve been reviving an old hobby of reading fiction books. I’ve dipped into several fantasy series in the last few months. In any book (or movie) that features a hero on a quest or a person on an adventure, there is a unifying feature.
The character serves a purpose much greater than themselves.
I am a huge fan of young adult fantasy, easily sucked into new worlds and conflicts. Main characters usually discover a hidden power, something they don’t understand about themselves. They get swept into a war they did not intend to fight. Characters always find a purpose much greater than themselves.
In the real world, a lot of us are caught in “main character syndrome.” Particularly, if you are active on social media, you likely have noticed people taking things very personally. It’s as if we are all in our own world and that world revolves around us, instead of being individuals in the grander scheme of life. Ironic- since main characters in stories are never the center of their own worlds. The truth is, I think we all have a tendency to see our own lives as something a little fantastical. Our own worlds do matter. Conflicts are real issues. We have villains and heroes and damsels and allies in our every day lives….but, what is the greater purpose?
The Greater Purpose:
The Virgin Mary lived a fantastical life no author’s imagination will ever match. At fifteen she went on the quest of unplanned pregnancy. She was confronted with her whole world flipping, enlisted to wield a power much greater than herself. Mary had to watch her entire world die on a cross. Then, she was asked to serve as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. She was entrusted as the advocate of every soul brought before her Son’s judgment.
Yet, Mary was not the main character of her story. Jesus was.
None of us are called to live life for ourselves. We are made to serve a higher purpose- specifically, to know, love, and serve God. Contrary to what society may say, our lives are not our own. We should avoid living like they are. We are the handmaids of the Lord.
