Announcement of the Birth of Jesus
Lk 1:26-38
26The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32He 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, 33and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35And 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. 36And 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; 37for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38Mary 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.
Reflection:
Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. The greeting of the angel Gabriel invites Mary to work with God and assume a great responsibility. Is she willing to be an instrument for the fulfillment of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind?
Mary places her whole being, freely and unconditionally, at the service of God. With sincerity and without reservation, Mary declares, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
In Jesus, God continually invites us to share in his divine life. He wants our positive contribution to continue his saving work in us and in the world. But once we have decided to follow Jesus and committed ourselves to God, we must give ourselves totally to him—our time, our talents, and our whole selves.
At the start of a new day
and at the beginning of work, ask:
How can I stay in God’s favor?
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