Monday, December 18, 2017

Luke 1:26-31

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 

The whole message

Who do you love? In the stories of Christmas the heart is overwhelmed because there are so many to love.

Gabriel, the angelic messenger to Mary, gets short attention in the story, but today … I see him. I feel him. I love him. Maybe I am him.

He stoops, craning his neck to look up into Mary’s eyes; her face is bent to the ground. His eyes seeks hers for she is troubled and confused, just like all the rest of us.

He wants to assure her that there is nothing to fear. … that the Great Love who always was and always will be favors her.

“Do not fear,” he says. “God delights in you. Out of all the women in the world you will bear the life who is Life, the love who is Love into this world.”

Tenderness flows through his soul for this young woman. He knows only love for Mary, for he is Love’s own messenger. He has one desire: “Mary, please believe. Please trust that Love has chosen you. Know that Love now grows within you.”

Gabriel’s pleading speaks the heart of the Love who chooses Mary … and each of us. Every one of us.

The angelic messenger cranes his neck. He bends to look you in the eye. He has only one message. “Please trust. Please know. The Heart of Love comes to live in you.”

“There is nothing to fear. Not again. Not ever.”

Pr. David L. Miller