The Word

Luke 1:26-38

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. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Reflect

By Janet Hawkins

As a child, I began anticipating Christmas soon after the Sears catalogue (the size of an encyclopedia!) appeared in our mailbox in August. I would spend hours thumbing through it, folding over page edges – gentle hints to Santa, the “must have” toys on my list.

My father would bring home two stockings in October for me to fill for local children in need. I was given five dollars per stocking to purchase small gifts at the local variety store. I never knew anything about the children, but I was hopeful they accepted the stockings as a gift of love from my family.

In November, my Sunday School class assembled a “take home” Advent kit. We painted the wooden candleholders, and then the class assembled Advent booklets. I have kept those Advent books ever since, and when I was recently looking at them again, I immediately noticed someone was missing from the assigned scripture, prayers, and hymns: Mary. After Gabriel appears to Mary, there is no mention of her until Christmas Eve, when she and Joseph arrive at the stable for the birth of Jesus.

Looking for answers, I referred to my childhood Bible (the Revised Standard Version):

Gabriel said, ‘Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And you will conceive in your womb a son and you shall call him Jesus…He will be great … And Mary said, ‘How can this be since I have no husband?… And Gabriel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you.” … Mary said, “Behold: I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 30)

In retrospect, these verses may have been difficult to explain to a grade school Sunday School class. I can’t recall Mr. White’s Luke 1 lesson, although I suspect he focused less on conception and moved on to Luke 2 (when Jesus is lying in the manger).

Today, however, I wonder about Mary. What was her reaction after being told she was going to be a mother? Mary was most likely a teenager. Surely, she had questions. Why me? Perhaps she was frightened about her future. Instead, Mary asked only one question: “How can this be?” After listening to Gabriel’s response, she answered: “Let it be.”

In my own life, “first world problems” often overwhelm me. When I am struggling, I pray and am pleasantly reminded that my faith gives me strength as well as support during difficult times or even when I ask, “why me?” By accepting that God has my back, I carry on and know I will get through whatever seems to be troubling me.

Rather than focusing on being “merry” this holiday season; let’s instead focus on “Mary.” Receiving God’s blessing, she took a leap of faith and willingly accepted her role in Christ’s birth. Mary’s faith is a gentle reminder to joyfully accept God’s gift of love – the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Listen

By Dr. Ben Hutchens

As we end our preparations for Christmas, the combined choirs of Westminster – Adults, Choristers, and Children – join in singing American composer Carolyn Jennings’ setting of “Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain.” The season of Advent draws us and our attention to the great and mighty wonder in the coming of the Christchild; this anthem provides a music setting of the same. It begins quietly with the children’s voices. After a few minutes we are reminded of Christ’s triumphant second coming in power and glory. The anthem ends as it begins, quietly, as the youngest voices implore us to “love and trust him as a child.”  

May the peace of God be with you this Christmastide as we worship the Christchild with friends around the world, and also with those who worship with us but on another shore and in a greater light. Merry Christmas!

Climb to the top of the highest mountain, joyous tidings proclaim to the world,
Lift up your voice, shout the good news: behold, your Lord comes to you.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will carry the lambs in his arms,
He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea,
From time eternal he was God, the Alpha and Omega, he. Behold, your Lord!
He will come in power and glory, he will rule with mercy and truth,
Hope of the nations, light of all the world.
He will love the little children, he will hold them in his arms.
Love him and trust him as a little child. Behold, your Lord comes to you.