Luke 1:26-38
“And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’” vs. 28
When we read Luke’s description of the Annunciation carefully we can’t help but chuckle at Mary’s response to Gabriel’s greeting, “she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” We know the reaction! If a stranger were to come to us with words of praise and over-the-top affirmation we too would wonder what was up. It sounds like a well rehearsed sales pitch…we’d probably think they wanted a contribution! In this instance Mary’s suspicions were warranted. The angel had an agenda…the messiah was coming and a mother was needed…and for some reason she had been chosen. And when she humbly responded, “Let it be with me according to your word,” the deal was made, and the world has never been the same. This is the way God continues to bring change. Again and again we are approached with words of affirmation and praise…and always there is an agenda. God wants something done and needs our physicality to make it happen. We’re chosen by God’s initiative and by the power of the Holy Spirit love flows through us into all the right places. Christmas is a time to acknowledge that call with a renewed commitment to follow in the footsteps of Mary. We too have been chosen to give birth to the hope of the world! Let it be with us according to God’s word!
Thought for the Day: When we ignore God’s call, what happens?
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