We rejoice, for the Light of the World has come to darkness. Jesus Christ is the Light that no darkness can overcome. Advent is a season of preparation as God’s people watch and wait for Christ. We will be pondering the songs found in the gospel of Luke. The song of an old priest named Zechariah. Mary, the pregnant teenager. And angels come to shepherds in the countryside. We ponder these songs and rejoice.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, open our eyes to your light and our ears to your words of hope. Come, O long-expected Jesus. Our hope is in you. Amen.
Word: Luke 1:28-29, 38
“And [the angel] came to her and said, ‘Greetings O favored one, the Lord is with you.’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this may be. (Luke 1:28-29) … And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:38)
Meditation: Favored One
Today’s meditation is written by Susan Senechal.
“What makes you so special?” It’s a question we ask when someone seems to be “too big for their britches,” when they act like the rules don’t apply to them, or when jealousy overtakes us as someone else seems to always get the good stuff. In today’s lesson, though, Mary seems to ask it about herself. When the angel visits her with the words, “Greetings O favored one,” she is troubled. What makes her so special? And what might be in store for her?
It’s hard for us to remember that Mary was a real woman. A girl at that! She had real problems, real fears, real failings. But there’s something about Mary. Actually, there’s something about God. He uses real people to accomplish his purposes. Even the young, the poor, the insignificant. It’s all about his grace, his mercy, his plans and purpose.
But there is something about Mary’s response as well. When the angel tells her of God’s plan, her response is, “let it be to me according to your word.” In today’s vernacular maybe it would sound like, “Okay God, I’m down with that,” or “Whatever you say, God.” Mary told the angel that God could use her in any way he chose because she was a willing vessel, fully available to him.
We respect Mary for her faith, but in Matthew 12:50 Jesus says, “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Faithful obedience like Mary’s is evidence that we are spiritually related to Jesus just like Mary was.
God is still looking for people who, like Mary, will make themselves fully available to him. When we are willing to surrender our hearts, our hopes, our dreams, he says he will use us to accomplish great and mighty things.
What are you willing to surrender to God today?
Holy Spirit, help us to answer you with “whatever, Lord—May it be to me as you have said.” Amen.
Prayer for Family
· For my immediate family (parents, spouse, siblings).
· For extended family (cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents)
· For close friends that are as family to me.
· For those who don’t have families, or whose families are broken.
· For forgiveness and reconciliation where there is division in my family.
· For provision where there is need in my family.
· For God to be the foundation, and the cross the center of my family.
· For a generation yet unborn, future members of our family.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, you enter into our mess. You meet us in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. You break through with eternal hope, that through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus all our pain will be healed, all of our sin is forgiven, all of our messes will be redeemed. May we live in that hope this day, amen!