Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Annunciation to Virgin Mary

Luke 1:26-38

Vs 38 “I am the Lord's servant, may your word to me be fulfilled”.

In the Christian Church calendar, Advent is the season of preparation for the celebration of Christmas and also of preparation for the second coming of Christ. Advent comes from the Latin word ‘Adventus’ which is translated from the Greek word ‘Parousia’- which means ‘coming’. Parousia was used to describe both the arrival of Jesus as a baby and His second coming. It also signifies the longing for the messiah's coming into our hearts and lives. Moreover, it alerts us of His second coming as the king.
In this passage, St. Luke portrays the encounter between Angel Gabriel and Mary, a village girl, who was betrothed to Joseph. As per the Jewish custom, a betrothal lasted for a year, and it was as binding as marriage. It could be dissolved only by divorce. Mary was living with her parents in Nazareth and waiting with happy anticipation for the day of her wedding. This was the most exciting time in her life. 

A Life-Changing Encounter: (Vs 26-28)

The intention of the story is to draw out a dramatic contrast to the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth. During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel had another message for Mary. Angel Gabriel visited Mary and said, “Greetings! You who are highly favoured, the Lord is with you”. From human standards, Mary was an unimportant teenager, but to God, however, she was blessed. This short statement leads to Mary wondering what the angel meant by these words. According to Gabriel’s announcement, Mary was going to conceive and bear a son and his name would be Jesus, also known as the son of the highest. But then Mary’s reaction was a bit puzzling. It was placing her in a difficult position socially, culturally, religiously and personally. 
In our lives too there are turning points where we may experience an invitation to embrace something difficult rather than discard it. Something which wrecks our dreams for ourselves or our loved ones. Like Mary, we too are planted into this world for a purpose. That purpose will not be revealed to us dramatically as it was to her. Perhaps she heard the voice of God so clearly because she was comfortable with silence. Sometimes, God may visit us through a messenger, a line from the scripture, an event, or a memory. As we are living in a cyber-addicted world, and amidst the busyness, we require the discerning power from above to choose between the voice of God and the voice of the world.

A Life-Changing Commitment: (Vs 38)

“I am the Lord’s servant”
Without exaggeration, we may call this one of the greatest statements of faith in the entire Bible. Mary was clearly in a dilemma over how to tackle the crisis. She was faced with the dilemma of losing the man she loved, disobeying her parents, and of risking religious ex-communication. She was struggling with the question of whether her own fiancé would understand her pregnancy. She knew her own life was at stake because she could have been stoned and killed for a pregnancy out of wedlock. Despite all these thoughts racing through her mind, Mary made a definitive decision to accept Gabriel’s invitation. She looked beyond herself and her enormous burden and simply sought to serve God by affirming, “behold I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word”. She said YES to the plan of God.
Mary’s surrender would involve physical and emotional costs. Her relationship with her parents would be tested. Her betrothal with Joseph would be endangered. Her reputation in the community would be jeopardized. Despite all the challenges, she said YES to the plan of God. She listened to the message and responded with an unconditional submission. It resulted in the God of the universe taking the human form, walking among our streets, embracing little children, touching the untouchables, healing the sick, raising the dead, and promising eternal life through His atoning sacrifice.

God’s plan always involves using ordinary people to bring extraordinary changes. The same applies to all of us. Remember, God has called us to be His viable instruments in our vocations, whether as teachers, health workers, financiers, engineers, or labourers. In fact, the Holy Spirit can use us anywhere to touch the lives of those around us. 

Prayer
Oh Lord, the seat of wisdom, teach us how to use our head and heart in a crisis. Make us more like Mary, willing to believe despite our doubts. Amen!

Thought of the Day
To be chosen by God so often means at one and the same time a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow.

Rev. Joseph Chacko

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