The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ (Luke 1: 30-33)
Today is the celebration of the Annunciation of the Lord. It recounts the story of the angel Gabriel coming to humble Mary, and announcing God's intention to come near in her child, Jesus.
It is quite amazing that God chooses Mary. She is a peasant girl from a backwater town with no power, prestige, or fame. Yet, she "finds favor" with God and is chosen to be the vessel through which the creator of all will come to life as a human baby. Yet, again, God chooses someone unexpected for His great work of salvation, like he did with Abraham and Sarah, Jacob, Ruth, David, etc.
For you and me, this is great and joyous news. For just as God continually uses the unknown and unprepared for Kingdom work, God continues to use the unknown and the unprepared -- like us -- to enact God's Kingdom work today. Like Mary, we can, in faith, respond "Here I am, the servant of the Lord." And like Mary, you have found favor with God and God will grant you the strength to be and do all that God will ever call you to in your life.
Favoring God, grant us the faith of Mary in living out our call as disciples. Amen.
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