Wednesday, December 9

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “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.”

CONTAINER OF THE HOLY

This day of Angel Gabriel’s visitation to Mary is the beginning of salvation for us and all of creation. The announcement of the long-awaited coming of the Messiah to receive human flesh in this young virgin’s womb carries forth the Divine plan to restore our fallen race.   Incomprehensibility and deep wonder must swallow us up as we ponder God’s own son taking on our human existence completely. The all-powerful, Holy One chooses to enter our world as each one of us has, “being knit together” in his mother’s body. The Holy One is humbled beyond our ability to understand, becoming an infant and moving through all the stages of development with his earthly family.

Mary, who is addressed as “favored one”, from the Greek charitou, also translated as “full of grace,” is greatly troubled at the first words of Gabriel. The message continues, repeating her favored position and identifying her as the one to bear Jesus, God’s son and ruler of an unending Kingdom.

At this point Mary asks how, since she has not known any man. This woman is to bear a child—but without bridegroom.

“How can He whom nothing can contain, upon whom none can gaze, dwell in the womb of a virgin who He Himself has formed?  And how shall I conceive God the Word, who with the Father and the Spirit has no beginning?”  (Matins for the Annunciation).

The uniqueness of her role has brought reference to the Ark of the Covenant. As God’s glorious presence and words (tablets of Ten Commandments) were contained in the Wooden Ark of the Old Testament, so God’s living Word and glorious presence was contained in this Daughter of Zion’s womb.

The angel’s answer to Mary’s question conveys the inscrutable mystery of divinity uniting with humanity. It is beyond nature and human understanding, while fulfilling Messianic prophecy. This will be accomplished with all three persons of the Holy Trinity in relation with young Mary.  The Holy Spirit comes upon her, the power of the Most High will overshadow her, and the Holy Son of God will be born of her.

This account of the Archangel’s message and Mary’s acceptance of God’s call upon her life have been the subject and inspiration for many musical and visual artistic works.  Today’s selection by Russian composer Tschesnokov, “Salvation is Created” gives voice to the profound and joyous meaning of this angelic announcement and interaction with Mary.

PRAYER

O Heavenly Father, All-Compassionate, Abounding in Love, 

We bow in awe at Your plan to send Your Beloved Son into our world, even to the cross and death, that we might be saved.  May we respond to Your message and call on our lives with the faith and willing obedience that Mary shows forth.  Bring Your miracle of spiritual transformation in each of us, that our lives will bear spiritual fruit for Your Kingdom. How we thank You for Mary, who bore the Savior and presented her whole being to serve your purpose.

In the name of the Holy One of God, Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to be born of a virgin, for our redemption.
Amen.

Beth Krammes, Biola Alumna, Inter-Cultural Studies