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Luke 1
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."
34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.
As we continue our reflections on this segment of the nativity story in Luke's Gospel, we note Mary's response to the appearance and words of the angel...Mary was greatly troubled. Gabriel quickly seeks to assuage her fear by telling her that he comes to bring God's blessing to her and to reveal to her that she has been intentionally chosen for the special role of being mother to the Messiah.
Keep in mind that Mary was just a teenager living a rather plain and ordinary life in her Palestinian village in Nazareth. She had no reason to assume she was one whom God would choose to live such a world-changing role...bearing, birthing, and raising the Anointed One of God.
Sometimes one can't help but wonder about the actions of God. He so often picks the unlikeliest, least remarkable, quite ordinary people around to get His will done. One notes rather quickly in reading the biblical writings that some of the main characters are anything but noteworthy. In fact, some can seem at times to be a liability. While Mary was not a liability to God's work, her resume lacked the credentials normally associated with tasks as significant as properly nurturing, guiding, and raising the one who came into human history as God's incarnation.
Of course, this event simply reminds us that God sees what we don't see; God knows what we don't know; God can do with someone what we never consider possible; God inspires and enables what we view as impossible. This Advent season we have renewed reason to stand in awe at the workings of God. Adoration and worship are proper responses for what we see and hear in this grand story.
And, then, there's the practical truth for our own lives - God can use us; even you and even me. There is something even now He wants and needs you to do. Some part of His divine intention depends on you. Committing yourself to prayerfully discerning what it is God is calling you to do should be a part of your personal spiritual Advent journey.
Hear the words of assurance Mary heard- when God chooses us and decides to use us, He will empower us and encourage us every step of the way!
Worth our reflection these days of Advent, isn't it?
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