“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him 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 ancestor David.”
Luke 1:26-32
It is easy to read these Christmas stories and think the people that are in them are superhuman. We are reminded today that Mary was living her life in a very ordinary way when the angel arrived to tell her what God was doing. We see when Gabriel arrives that Mary was “perplexed” by the words “Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you.” and she pondered them in her heart. Do you ever feel perplexed that God would love you and use you? We are reminded that Mary, like all of us, wondered what God was up to and why he was using her but ultimately she said “yes” to being used. We are no different and yet God comes to us as well and promises us he is with us. May that be enough for us, as it was for Mary, to say “yes”!
Action: Say “yes” to God in a new way today.
Prayer: God, help me set aside my fears and be reminded that you are with me. Help me to be comforted by your presence so that I may have courage to say “yes” to whatever you call me to do. Amen.