Monday, December 23, 2024
Topic: “The Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ”
Text: Luke 1:26-38
26. In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, 27. to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28. And the angel came to her and said, “Hail, you who are highly favored; the Lord is with you.” 29. And Mary was troubled by this and wondered what kind of greeting this could be. 30. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31. And behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” 32. 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 father David. 33. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 34. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I know no man? 35. And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. 36. Behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37. For nothing shall be impossible with God. 38. Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word! And the angel departed from her.
Let us remember:
God had chosen a genealogy that would become the reference for the priesthood and salvation. Jesus did not come from a carnal union that proceeds from a combination of natural factors specific to ordinary mortals. But he came from heaven to be engendered in an innocent virgin who underwent the grace of God. This birth should not be ordinary so as not to compare it to all other births. If that had been the case, the Jesus who would be born from it would be compared to a common human of no interest to humanity. But God made a strong difference by sending an angel as a precursor to warn Mary, the young girl targeted to be at the center of the greatest miracle that has never been equaled despite the prowess of technology. Mary's bed had never known the stain of Adamic sin. Her womb was still pure and healthy. Joseph, being from a line that goes back to Abram, the father of faith; he is a son of David, born of the lineage of David. Joseph and Mary did not obstruct God’s plan for humanity. Rather, Mary submitted, like a wise adult when she was only of age. She had no experience in procreation, and yet she agreed to bear the savior of the world. Anyone who agrees to bear the Word of God for the good of their contemporaries is like Mary. When we say yes to God rolling out his carpet before the world to save humanity lost in sin, we are like Mary. Mary’s obedience is a sacred act that is assimilated to our obedience since it is a question of doing the will of God. Welcoming a Spirit she had never heard of, who would cover her with his shadow, is an experience that would have frightened her. However, Mary braved the unknown while counting on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Let us be confident and go where God leads us. Excellent Monday. Amen.
Alain Louz.-
Comments