Today is December 23rd in the final week of Advent.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.   

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence, and say Come Holy Spirit.  

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1. 


28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 


In this passage, we witness a profound moment of divine intervention. The angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary is both startling and reassuring. Mary, a young woman from a humble background, is told that she is highly favored and that the Lord is with her. This greeting, while comforting, also brings a sense of awe and fear. As you reflect on this passage, consider how Mary must have felt. She was greatly troubled and wondered about the meaning of this extraordinary message. Consider a time in your life where you felt both startled by life’s circumstances yet reassured by the presence of God with you.  
  
The angel's words, "Do not be afraid," offer a powerful reminder of God's presence and favor. Mary's response to the angel's message is a testament to her faith and trust in God. Despite her initial fear and confusion, she embraces her role in God's plan with humility and courage. This passage invites us to reflect on our own lives and how we respond to God's call. Is there something happening your life where God is inviting you to trust him in the midst of fear or confusion?  
 
Come, thou long expected Jesus, 
born to set thy people free; 
from our fears and sins release us, 
let us find our rest in thee. 

Behold, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…
 
In the name of the Father, and the son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.