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Advent Day 3

 3. 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, favoured 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 favour 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 for ever, 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.


Imagine the scene - you're sitting at home minding your own business when an angel appears and tells you that you're about to become the mother of God, how do you react?  Mary firstly looked at the practical implications - how? Like many of us today, she was concerned about having all the details in a straight line before she could commit. 

The angel, Gabriel, didn't actually commit the details to her - but showed her better evidence of God's power through her relative Elizabeth's pregnancy.  Mary responded in complete compliance, "May it be with me according to your word".

Even today, God still calls us to work for him.  While it would seem obvious that clergy members are called by God - He still asks us all to work for him, with some of us called in different ways.  We aren't all called to be preachers, teachers, evangelists - but these are not the only ways to serve God.  Mary was given a very special task, being the mother to a baby, child and Saviour - a lifelong mission!  Others walked with him, others served him tea, others provided for him, others stood at the cross and wept. 

What has God asked you to do for him?  If you are given a chance to work for God - would you argue, or would you just agree and be compliant?


Collect

Almighty God, Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.


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