Faith Matters: Change and challenge
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Ven. Angela Martin, Archdeacon of Horsham, reflects on September as a season of change and how Mary can be an example of trust for us in these times.
September is often a month of new beginnings. As summer draws to a close, life begins to speed up again. Children return to school, some moving into a new class or even a new school. Young people head off to college or university, while others start new jobs, move home, or face changes in family life. Whether we welcome it or not, September is a season of change.
And with change comes challenge.
Most of us recognise the mixture of excitement and anxiety that accompanies new beginnings. Change can make us feel uncertain, even when it is positive. One of the difficulties we face today is that we do not always find it easy to talk about how we are feeling. It can seem as though we have to cope alone.
At the beginning of September, the Church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her story reminds us that change and uncertainty are not new experiences. As a young woman, Mary received an unexpected message from the angel Gabriel that would transform her life. It was a daunting calling, yet she responded with trust, believing that God would be with her through it all.
That same promise remains true for us today. Whatever changes we may be facing, we are not alone. God walks beside us in times of uncertainty as surely as in times of joy.
Prayer can help us hold on to that truth. Many Christians ask Mary to pray for them, knowing that she understands what it means to face the unknown with faith and courage. The familiar Hail Mary has brought comfort to generations of believers, reminding us that God is always near.
Perhaps, as we step into this new season of change and challenge, we might make this prayer our own:
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.