Dear all,

I hope and pray that this letter finds you well.  Our Advent journey nears its conclusion and Christmas is fast approaching.  I wonder whether you have ever had the experience of going home to find an unexpected visitor on your doorstep.  From a work colleague, family member or friend.  What did they want?  Did they bring news, did they need help or was it just an impromptu visit?  I tend to be a person that likes to plan and have a rough idea of how a day is going to map out, although this does not always happen! 

This week we look at the Angel’s visit to Mary from Luke 1: 26 – 38.  Mary was minding her own business at home and an angel appears to her.  How frightening and yet amazing at the same time.  The angel tells Mary, that she is highly favoured, and the Lord is with her.  But Mary is greatly troubled and wonders what kind of greeting this really is. 

The angel seeks to reassure Mary by telling her not to be afraid.  That she has found favour with God.  The angel then goes onto explain God’s plan to an astonished Mary about how she will carry God’s child who is to become the messiah and the eternal king!  That is some news!  Mary is to name him Jesus which means to deliver or rescue hence His name, fulfils what He will come to do.  Mary, however, is confused by the news because she is a virgin so the angel explains what will happen to her.  In other words, a great miracle will take place.  In addition, the angel explains that her relative Elizabeth will also have a child though unlike Mary who is only a teenager, Elizabeth is well advanced in her years.  Elizabeth will go on to become the mother of John the Baptist.  The Angel also explains that the Lord God will give Jesus the throne of father David, so perhaps Mary is left pondering that she is going to give birth to someone who will become a king of Israel but in reality, we know Jesus’ kingdom will go far beyond the boundaries of Palestine. 

The passage ends with those wonderful words of Mary’s response, ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’  Is that how we respond to the things God calls us to do?  Mary is so humble and yet thankful for this wonderful opportunity.  Truly, the birth of Jesus is a monumental and world changing event and Mary starts to realise how extraordinary it is going to be and how special she is to be chosen.  This sense of awe and wonder is utterly amazing and something which we as a church really ought to capture, not just at Christmas but all year around to become relevant to people throughout the year but also throughout their lives.  Let us this Advent, ponder these words of Mary, submit ourselves to his following once more and in humble obedience accept that God knows best.   

May our Lord Jesus Christ, the born of Mary, bless us now and always,