Listen

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God.”

Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38

Think

In the Christian tradition, today marks the last Sunday of Advent, a four-week observance of the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This last Sunday is marked as the Sunday of love, for it was love that came down in the form of flesh to save us.

When the angel visits Mary, Mary is caught by surprise and perplexed by the visit. She is astonished that she would receive such a visitor. This visit would mark her life forever. It would unwrap the gift of her calling: the gift of being the blessed mother of Jesus, the gift of love that came down. Her response is a vivid example of loving and trusting God with all her being.

Throughout our lives, we will find God visiting us with a reminder of the calling that God has placed in our own lives. Though we might be perplexed by God’s calling and sometimes fearful, we are encouraged by young Mary to trust God and not be afraid, for nothing is impossible with God.

Marcia Quintanilla

Question to Ponder:

On this Christmas Eve, in what areas of your life are you being reminded to not be afraid and to listen to God’s call?

Pray

God of gifts, purpose, and love, prepare my heart

not to be afraid when I hear your voice calling me.

Prepare my heart to welcome your son into my life.

Amen.

Go

Glory to the light of the world

Glory to the light of the world

For all who wait

For all who hunger

For all who’ve prayed

For all who wonder

Behold your King

Behold Messiah

Emmanuel, Emmanuel

“Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle