Tomorrow we celebrate Christmas, and in anticipation of that joyful day, we are reminded in today’s gospel from the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, about the time when the Angel Gabriel first appeared to Mary and announced to her that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus.
We’re all familiar with that narrative, right? It begins with the Angel surprising Mary with the greeting, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Then the angel calms her down and proclaims God’s plan, about her giving birth to God’s Son, and then assures her that even though she’s a virgin, the Holy Spirit will come upon her and make the impossible virgin birth happen. Finally, the story concludes with Mary accepting and saying, “I am the servant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”
While we get ourselves ready to commemorate the birth of Jesus tomorrow, let me share with you THE verse in this passage that has brought hope to me personally in my ministry, in my role as a father, in my work, and in even in my prayers for others people’s well-being. And I pray that this verse today brings hope to all of us throughout the year, and not just on Christmas day.
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