Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Suboro: Annunciation to virgin Mary

Luke 1:26-38 
V30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
 

Interestingly, during the Lent season, the Church commemorates March 25 as the day to remember the annunciation to virgin Mary, nine months before Christmas. The angel Gabriel greeted Mary saying, “Greetings, favoured one.” The angel further calmed the terrified Mary by reiterating that she had found favor with God. We often associate favor or blessings with wealth, health, promotion or destruction of our enemies. But here, God was calling Mary to a crisis. In fact, all of God’s heroes had to face one crisis after the other after being called by God. We can see that in the lives of Abraham, Paul and the prophet Samuel. God called them to face major crises as a part of being chosen by God. So then how do we understand grace or favor? Grace is the strength God gives to do His will even when his will is most difficult for us.
 
In V38, Mary says, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord.” When Mary submits herself to do God’s will, she is filled with the grace to bear a great child. God’s biggest blessing is often accompanied by great challenges. Are we going to deny that blessing because we don’t want to submit to God’s will? To whoever submits to God’s will and obeys God, God gives his grace. In fact, true blessedness lies in submitting to God’s will.

 
PRAYER
Dear Lord, help me to submit to your will even in the most difficult situations of my life, Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God’s favor is given to those who do God’s will.
 
Rev. Thomas John, Carmel MTC, Boston
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more