Advent 18th December

"The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.” Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!” Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” Luke 1:27-38

Readings

Psalm 20, 

Jeremiah 33:14-16, 

Luke 1:26-38,

Reflection

The angel’s greeting of Mary in this text has been a source of interest for 2,000 years. What are we to make of the salutation “Greetings, favoured one, the Lord is with you”? When you read the entire passage it perhaps becomes clear that the focus is really not on Mary at all, but rather on the One who would be called the holy Son of God, sent to reign over the house of Jacob forever, and whose Kingdom will have no end. But what of this curious greeting? Mary found favour with God the same way that you and I find favour with God: by grace alone! We don’t know why Mary was chosen to bear Jesus in her womb any more than we know why God chose Israel as His people, or you and I as His beloved sons and daughters. But we do know clearly from Scripture that God’s choosing is always a product of His grace, not our effort. It is by Jesus’ merit, not our own. Mary did indeed find favour with God, and in exactly the same way that you and I have found favour with God. May we honour God by our lives as Mary did.

Prayer

I depend on you so much.

You are a rock for my belief and a sign of God's love.
Fill me with your praise!

I want to sing your glory,

filled with joy for the message of hope you send.
Amen