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26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary 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?” 35 The 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. (Luke 1:26-38 NIV Bible)
There are only seven shopping days until Christmas, Friend! Not that that really matters to all people, right? It's not the main event for the believer, amen? I just watched A Charlie Brown Christmas for the umpteenth time and noticed something that perhaps I had forgotten or maybe never noticed like I did today. If you're familiar with the show, it is from 1965, and it first aired on CBS and in it, Charlie Brown is depressed about the whole holiday until he hears Linus read from the Gospel of Luke, the birth story of Jesus. His entire attitude changed upon hearing the words of the gospel about the why behind Christmas. It really touched me and more so because several of us are reading through the entire gospel of Luke, a chapter a day, until Christmas Eve, which will be the 24th (of course) of December and the 24th chapter of Luke.
It's awesome how words we hear or read over and over again, one day, for whatever reason hit and we are not the same. We finally hear what we had been longing to hear and God reveals to us that which we needed to hear. For our little ones, our children and grandchildren, when they hear the gospel and it becomes theirs, the old, old story becomes new again. Today's reading is just one example of that. Our story is a story of a visit. It happened in the quiet town of Nazareth to a young woman whose life was probably one of quiet routine and into that quiet life came news of a LOUD event about to unfold. The woman, Mary, heard the news of the story which has echoed through millennia, a story of unexpected grace unfolding in the least-expected places.
What Mary heard is called the annunciation. The news were this; she, a virgin, will bear the Son of God. Fear overcomes her as does shock, yet, the angel's reassuring words pierce through: "Do not be afriad, Mary, you have found favor with God."
These words hold immense power, for they remind us that God's grace often finds us in unexpected places, amidst our fears and doubts. God doesn't wait for us to have our lives in perfect order before He chooses us for something incredible. He looks at our hearts, sees our potential, and whispers, "Do not be afraid."
From that moment on, Mary's life would never be the same. What the angel shared with her brought societal scrutiny and whispers. Her youth director might have had a talk with her about her conduct, and in some churches she might have been shown the door. Yet, Mary's response is breathtaking: "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled." In that moment, she surrenders completely to God's plan. She embraces the coming enormity of the task, and even the uncertainty it would bring.
What can we learn from Mary at this point? She has shown us that our complete surrender is necessary. When God calls us, He doesn't always provide a road map. God asks for our trust, and our willingness to step into the unknown, even when it seems scary and goes against our plans for our lives. But, just like Mary, we can choose to respond with "Yes, Lord," letting go of our anxieties and stepping into the adventure of faith. And what a journey that has been for me, and maybe for you, too!
The annunciation also reminds us of God's extraordinary power. Nothing is impossible for God. He can take a seemingly ordinary circumstance – a young woman in a small town – and weave it into the fabric of history, turning the impossible into "blessed is the mother of the Lord."
As we reflect on this passage, let us carry these lessons in our hearts: We can and should embrace God's unexpected grace: God finds us when we least expect it, whispering hope and possibility even in the midst of our ordinary lives. We also should surrender to His plan: Let go of control and say "Yes" to His call, even when it seems daunting. And, we should believe in the impossible: Nothing is beyond God's reach. He can turn our lives into extraordinary testimonies of His power.
PRAYER: Lord, open our hearts to the whispers of Your grace. Help us to recognize Your calling, even when it takes us to unexpected places. Grant us the courage to surrender to Your plan, the faith to believe in the impossible, and the strength to say "Yes" to whatever You ask of us. May our lives, like Mary's, become vessels of Your extraordinary love and a testament to the power of Your unexpected grace. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Go forth today; carry the spirit of Mary's surrender and embrace the possibility of God's unexpecting grace unfolding in your own life!
Receive my love for you, and my gratitude to God for your life!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
