14 December

The Angel Visits Mary

Bible Reading

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Comments

One miraculous birth had already been announced. This second one was even more miraculous. Mary, the mother-to-be was a virgin!

We can imagine how discombobulating this must have been for Mary. We are told that she was confused and disturbed even before there was any mention of a baby. Presumably she as also afraid, since the angel urged her not to be. Being visited by an angel was frightening. Even being called "favoured" and being told God was with her was apparently not comforting.

Then came the news of her pregnancy and the description of her child. Look at what was said. Mary could have been left in no doubt that the child she was to bear was the long-awaited Messiah. The Son of the Most High. Given the throne of his ancestor David. Reign over Israel forever. Having a kingdom that would never end.

Mary came from a remote northern village and was, as far as we know, insignificant. It is no surprise that this news came as a shock.

But even more perplexing... how could this possibly happen... she was a virgin!

The conception would be supernatural - by the power of the Holy Spirit. That was why this baby could be called holy and the Son of God.

Zechariah had asked how he could be sure that the angel spoke the truth. He was punished for unbelief. Mary questioned how she could possibly have a child and she was not punished. What was the difference?

We saw yesterday that Zechariah had not believed. He suggested the angel must have been wrong.

Mary, apparently, believed it would happen but couldn't understand how. We can see the nature of her response on the word, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." They are truly remarkable words. She submitted herself completely to God. What God wanted, she would be part of. She was a servant of God.

There was going to be huge cost. Even though she did not yet know that Jesus would be crucified, there would be the cost of rejection by all those who would assume she had been promiscuous. She risked losing her fiance.

But she said, "i am the Lord's servant."

For Reflection

A Carol

A Christmas Tradition

Santa

"Santa" means "saint". You might also have heard Santa being called "Saint Nick" or "Santa Claus"

Saint Nicholas was a bishop in the fourth century in a place called Myra in what is now Turkey. There are many legends about him. They might not all be true but he has a reputation for having been exceptionally kind. The various legends tell of him giving money to the poor. A favourite one says that he gave gifts of money to a poor family in which the three daughters had no dowry and so could not get married. He thus saved them from being sold into slavery or prostitution. Some versions include him dropping the money down the chimney and even of it landing in a stocking at the bottom.

Whether the details are true or not, the reputation of this generous man was maintained and he became the patron saint of children and of sailors. More information on St Nicholas.

The Dutch name, Sint Nikolaas, was shortened to Sinter Klaas and became Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas' saints day is December 6, the anniversary of his death. In the United States, the celebration of his saint's day, especially because of his association with generosity and gift-giving, began to merge with the Christmas tradition of giving gifts.

Shops started providing Santa Clauses to attract children prior to Christmas.

Other cultures also have a tradition of a gift-giving personality at Christmas. In the United Kingdom it was Father Christmas. In France it was Pere Noel, and so on. These also have merged with Saint Nicholas.

Red has always been associate with Saint Nicholas because his bishop's robes were red but the modern image of Santa - the rotund, merry gentleman - derives from pictures drawn of him by Thomas Nast in the late nineteenth century.

The National Geographic website has more information on how Saint Nicholas became Santa Claus.

A Family Activity

Perhaps the best way to remember Saint Nicholas would be to give a gift to someone who is poor. What could you make or buy as a family? How could you get it to someone in need?

A Prayer

Dear Father, we thank you for the beautiful servant-heartedness and the great faith of Mary. Thank you that through her obedience, the whole world received its Saviour. Please help us to also be very ready to say "yes" when you speak to us.

In Jesus' name, amen.