In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, GOD sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledge to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The LORD is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greetings this might be. But the angel said to her. “Do not be afraid. Mary, you have found favor with GOD. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him JESUS. He will be GREAT and will be called the SON of the Most High. The LORD GOD will give him the throne of his father David. And He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; HIS KINGDOM will NEVER END.
“How will this be, Mary asked the angel since I am a virgin?” the angel answered. “The HOLY SPIRIT will come on you, and the POWER of the MOST HIGH will overshadow you. So, the HOLY ONE to be born will be called the SON of GOD. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from GOD will ever fail.” “I am the LORD’s servant.” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
Meditation:
FAITH in Action! That’s what Mary had, and that’s the gift given to us by GOD in our baptism and confirmation of the HOLY SPIRIT!
In FAITH, Mary believed the angel’s message. In FAITH, she traveled to her Cousin Elizabeth’s home.
In FAITH, she would teach her son that he was the Son of God, and she would follow him to his death, and remain with his disciples so that they would not lose FAITH after he returned home to his father.
What do we do with our gift of FAITH? Why can it be so easily shaken? How many times have we "lost" FAITH – in God, in others, even in ourselves?
Mary’s FAITH did not promise her an easy life, in fact, Simeon told her that her heart would be pierced with a sword so that "the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Think of how often her FAITH was tested. And yet, she continued to believe.
How many of us have been tested in the same way?
God has given Mary to us as a sign that God is with us always, even through the darkest times, the most confusing times.
If we continue to believe, to have FAITH, then we, too, will be called "blessed" because our reward is PEACE of heart and mind in this world, and a place in at the table with Mary in the next.
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of FAITH! This gift that gets us through the dark days and brightens the good ones. May we always hold you in our heart and continue sharing the story of JESUS to awaken the gift of FAITH in others so they may also experience the JOY we feel! In JESUS’ name, we pray. Amen!
Jose Reyes
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