Fourth Sunday of Advent |
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Scripture |
Luke 1:26-3826 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The 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. 36 And 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. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then 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.
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Devotional |
Mary had been chosen, “favored” by God. But what a strange blessing this turns out to be. It brought with it none of the ideals or goals that so consume our daily striving. Today many assume that those whom God favors will enjoy the things we equate with a good life: social standing, wealth, and good health. Yet Mary, God’s favored one, was blessed with having a child out of wedlock who would later be executed as a criminal. Acceptability, prosperity, and comfort have never been the essence of God’s blessing. The story is so familiar that we let its familiarity mask its scandal. The first chapter of Luke contains some radical events. The impossible is possible! An infertile woman becomes pregnant. A virgin conceives. Gabriel, the mythical war angel, instructs Mary to name the child after a freedom fighter: “You must name him Jesus” or Joshua. The name means “savior” –a title, like on of the Most High, often given to Greek and Roman military leaders. “[S]ince the first-century emperor Caesar Augustus was entitled Lord, Son of God, Bringer of Peace, and Savior of the World. Yet those are the very titles that angelic messengers give to Jesus in the Christmas story in Luke.” 1 Norman Shawchuck and Rueben Job describe this event. God’s astounding and radical intervention in our human history cannot be contained in the tame and timid displays of Christmas lights, catchy slogans, or the exchange of gifts. Advent confronts us once again with God’s unparalleled effort to communicate the message that all humankind is embraced and held close by a God of love. Jesus Christ has come, is present with us, and will come again in final victory when a darkness, pain, and evil will be not more. 2 What is possible when we cooperate with God? Have you ever experienced the impossible becoming possible? How do we attempt to tame the Christmas story? Can we appreciate the story more if we recognize that the blessing of God does not always bring acceptability, prosperity, and comfort? Luke introduces a savior of the world, sent by God that is defined with the same description as emperor Caesar Augustus. What convinces us of Luke’s promise? How does Advent confront us with God’s effort to communicate a radical new way of life? 1 Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan , The First Christmas. New York: Harper One, 2007. p. 578 |