Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:26-38 on biblegateway.com
Verse 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, Verse 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Verse 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." Verse 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Verse 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Verse 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. Verse 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. Verse 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Verse 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" Verse 35The angel said to her, "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 holy; he will be called Son of God. Verse 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. Verse 37For nothing will be impossible with God." Verse 38Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Devotion
With what tone of voice do you imagine Mary answers Gabriel in verse 38? We often assume that Mary is docile, acquiescent, pious; that is certainly a fair reading. But what if we imagine that Mary's tone is defiant, holding the angel and God to account? "Let it be according to your word—all of it! If this is true, let it be worthwhile, let it all come out okay in the end!" After all, such a pregnancy would be an epic scandal, endangering the future of Mary and her child.
What did Mary glimpse in Gabriel’s announcement? "Mary, did you know?" as the popular Christmas song asks. We know the end of the story—there will indeed be the glory and triumph of resurrection, but first will come the heartbreak, torture and death of Good Friday. As we celebrate Jesus' birth, we also call to mind the rest of his story—his life, death and resurrection.
Prayer
Saving God, help us to see the fullness of Jesus’ story, from birth to death to resurrection. Give us the courage, like Mary, to embrace your call on our lives, whatever that may bring. Amen.