Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Annunciation to Virgin Mary

1 Samuel 2: 1-11

V 7-8 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them, he has set the world.

Our theme today is the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Angel Gabriel came to a virgin named Mary in the Galilean town of Nazareth. She was told that she will conceive a child who will become great and be called the son of the Highest. She later went to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth who became pregnant at an old age. When both of them met, Elizabeth blessed her saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1: 42-43)  
The response of Mary was that “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
 he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:51-53) 
In our passage also we see a woman named Hannah who longs for a child. She prayed to the Lord for a son and made the oath before the Lord that if she be blessed with a son; she would dedicate that son in service of the Lord. After she had the son, she dedicated him to Lord, and then she prayed the passages of our devotion.   The words of Hannah and of Mary contain the same meaning. The Lord is in charge of the whole universe. He makes people rich and poor. He lifts the poor and humbles the proud people. We are nothing by ourselves. All the blessings we have are from God and none of us should be proud of what we have. In a split second God can change the life of any person. He can exalt the poor and humble the rich. He is the source of everything in the world. Both these women give us meaningful messages of humility and submission. 

Prayer
 Oh Lord, enable us to understand that you are the source of all our blessings. Please help us to submit ourselves to your will.

Thought of the Day
 God is in control of our lives he humbles and he exalts.
 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap


P.T. Thomas
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY

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