Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 20, 2024

Date: Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Scripture Text: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today recounts the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her the LORD’s plan for a savior and to tell Mary her role in that plan. It follows yesterday’s account of Gabriel appearing to Zechariah announcing the LORD’s intervention for Zechariah and his wife’s conception of a child in their old age. Some consider Mary’s response to be the same as Zechariah’s, but that is not so. Whereas Zechariah wants proof, “How shall I know this?”, Mary asks instead how the LORD will accomplish this since she is a virgin. Zechariah’s response is one of doubt; Mary’s is one of belief but unsure of what she is being asked to do and asks for more detail.

When Gabriel gives Mary the rest of the announcement, Mary immediately responds, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How deep is my faith? Do I fail to believe that with the LORD nothing is impossible? Do I bring the difficult and seemingly impossible to the LORD? Do I believe that Mary conceived through the power of the Spirit?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we bring You our praises for all that we see that we know You have created and steward. We give You thanks for your many blessings and gifts. We want to believe with all our heart and mind. Send your Spirit to open our minds and hearts to what is possible from You, through You and in You. Grant that we may believe with all our being in your beloved Son, that we will open ourselves to His selfless love and sacrifice and follow Him as His disciples. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.