Our end-of-term puppy class assignment was the muzzle hold. The teacher told us to sit with the dog between our knees, facing us, holding her in place while quietly praising when she behaved well. Face-to-face sit is frightening to a puppy, so we should be prepared for tantrums. After a battle of the wills, through patient presence, the dog would settle and accept this position. When the dog was compliant, the human was to take the dog's muzzle in her hand, move the muzzle up and down, again training down the resistance to the new threat. It was supposed to take 5 or 6 days for the dog to figure out who's in charge. I don't mean to brag, but after an impressive tantrum the first day, Sadie settled to the muzzle hold by day 2. This training exercise was to build trust between human and dog, trust built on right relationship.
This dog story, believe it or not, illustrates both David's and Mary's stories. The story in 2 Samuel is what scholars call, "The Davidic Covenant." It's God's promise to David, establishing his dynasty, promising an heir who would reign forever. Both Jews and Christians see this as a prophecy of the Messiah, and Christians believe Jesus is this Messiah, the Jesus whose birth is announced in Luke to his mother, Mary, by the angel Gabriel. And this is like dog training how-?

Trusting obedience. Relationships in the right order.

David had a special relationship with God-a nobody called to shepherd God's people, a man "after God's heart" (as scripture says), God's own Golden Boy. But despite David's special relationship, it could be deepened, and that deepening called for right relationship. Had David given the impression he was one-upping God with a "more better" idea, to build God a house? Had David taken divine prerogative to protect God's reputation? Or usurping the divine right to set the agenda? God's response to what looked like a pious idea is a delicious pun. House. To David, "house" meant a building, a lavish temple to his god, like what all the other kings had. But to God, "house" meant relationship-familial, mutually beneficial, trusting. The House of Israel ruled by the House of David.

Mary's call to trust is different. David trusted his strength, his wit, his ability to govern. Because David was successful at being who he was, he figured God worked on a similar set of rules. As a girl, Mary expressed trust through compliance and obedience. Her response to Gabriel may have been the sort of thing nice girls were taught to say--"Let it be with me according to your word"-but God saw it as extraordinary trust.

What causes trust? What does it look like? It's almost a law that youth groups do that trust exercise where one person falls back into the arms of the rest of the group which is waiting to receive, able to carry the sudden weight because they are working together. Corporate team-building exercises use ropes courses to build trust as team members work cooperatively to solve problems. But there are far more mundane trust experiences. If you stop and ask for directions (which a woman will do), you are trusting a total stranger to tell you how to reach your destination. People trust the opinion of movie reviewers to put them on to good entertainment options. Your friends trust you to recommend a good place to go to at the beach. An extreme example of trust is rock climbers who rope themselves together to scale a rock face, protecting each other against missteps.

Trusting God just seems more complicated, more theological. Or less obvious. Or, focused on certain things only. We're willing to trust God to hear our requests, but taking God's answers at face value is another thing entirely. I'm convinced that our struggle "to do God's will" isn't with God. We pray, "Show us your will" when we already know God's will. We just want a better answer. Something easier, safer, less risky. Something we can theologize away from any inconvenient claim on our lives.

Most people agree God is all-powerful. When we were kids, we figured there was one thing God couldn't do. God couldn't make a rock too big for God to lift. That's a simple-minded theology, by the way, because the Incarnation means God wasn't thinking of the rock. God didn't try to make a rock too big to lift. God embraced human limitation, God became "not big enough," when Jesus was born of Mary. But God continues to be God, and as such, God's will will be done. Father Tim in the Mitford books by Jan Karon says that's the prayer God always answers-"thy will be done."

How can we learn to trust? Start little and get bigger. Little things-listening to the nudge to see or call or write to someone. You might be a God-send. Bigger things-trusting you are still loveable even if you don't over-accomplish Christmas. Agreeing to be an elder, trusting that God will help you grow into the vows. Accepting that adolescent rebellion isn't about winning, trusting that, even if the kids seem to love one parent more than the other, they will still (or maybe again eventually) love you. Taking time to meditate, trusting that God will provide the time needed for the other things to get done. Risking some of the new things the Mission Study Committee recommends for session re-structure or congregational faith nurture or mission outreach, trusting that we'll still be Springwater. In the struggle "to do God's will" we can complicate things. We can subvert God's will, we can get ourselves into trouble. But God's will will be done. We can also learn to pray, like Mary, "Let it be with me according to your word."

David was trying to do good things for God. His intentions were noble and good. But God doesn't need us to shine the pearly gates. What God wanted to do for David is what God did for Mary. Engender life. This is the exact invitation God tenders each of us this very day. We can receive that invitation like David. We can say, "I've got a better idea! Why don't we try this? I'll be as creative and imaginative and loving as I can be, and then you can bless my work." Or we can receive God's invitation like Mary. "Let it be with me according to your word." And then receive, receive, receive. Host within us the Child, nurture that life engendered by God in us-joy in relationships, a sense of purpose in our work, a chance to make a difference in the life of someone else. Nourish that God-engendered life within you, caring for that Life by caring for yourself.

Mary's acquiescence is not passive. Her answer to God's invitation to obedience has been interpreted in a poem called, "Magnificat of Acceptance," by Ann Johnson as she reflected on Mary as a woman of strength and wisdom. This reflects Mary's answer to Gabriel.

Holy is the place within me where God lives.
God's tender fingers reach out from age to age
to touch the softened inner spaces of those
who open their souls in hope.

I have experienced the creative power of God's embracing arms
and I know the cleansing fire of unconditional love.
I am freed from all earthly authority
and know my bonding to the Author of all earthly things.

I am filled with the news of good things;
my favor with God,
faithful trust in the gentle shadow of the Most High,
the mystery of my son, Jesus,
the gift of companionship with my beloved kinswoman,

Elizabeth, who believes as I believe.
The place in my heart that I had filled
with thoughts of fear and inadequacy
has been emptied and I am quiet within.

To actively receive God's invitation, to continue birthing the Christ in today's world, requires a great deal of trust. But the good news is that God is so powerful we can't not trust. The power of the Most High will overshadow you. And you will be so filled with life. Amen.