November 20, 2022
Gospel – March 25, 2020 – Luke 1:26-28
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Imagine for just a moment – today – a young woman, teenager, being told she had been chosen as the vessel through which God would become incarnate to the world. In this society – how do you think that plays out?
Now, let’s just say she lives in the Middle East where she was born into a society where if she were to become pregnant before marriage she is likely stoned to death. How do you think that plays out?
The second situation is more what young Mary is faced with – her whole life being destroyed and likely ended. Her future would have been one of hardship had she lived.
And yet, her only question is not “is there someone else?” but rather “how can this happen?” to me who has not “known” man in a carnal sense.
I can’t imagine how she did what she did. I am knowledgeable of how things turn out and I would still fear what might happen.
Mary doesn’t fear what will happen but just wants to get it straight on how it could happen. She was completely obedient. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
It is for us to be obedient to the Lord in what ever He might ask of us. We don’t need to be brave, strong, rich, poor, leader, follower, or any other thing we might be. God doesn’t wish harm upon us. We need to trust him as Father.
We need only be obedient.
At least that’s what I heard Him say…
What I Heard Him Say 