God Is Near: Week Three

Nothing Is Impossible With God

This Sunday we continue our reflection into the thin veil between heaven and earth during the incarnation. Messengers are sent back and forth to bring good news that the long-awaited Messiah, the savior of the world, is on the way. The messengers break into humanity’s history to bring unexpected news. I wonder if we have had messengers bring unexpected news into our own personal stories. Many of us serve in ministries because God has called us into unexpected paths. I wonder if Rev. Kris Shonewolf ever dreamed, she would be doing ministry among the Lowell Correctional Women today? Or whether Jonathan and Donna Baker knew they would travel to faraway lands such as Congo to bring news of running drinking water? I wonder about our Christmas shoeboxes traveling all around the world.We had such fun filling them up and soon they will make their way into little hands and smiley faces. I wonder about those who work with Messy Church or mentoring children? I wonder how they knew to respond… “Ok, Lord, I will do it,” “Yes, Lord, let it be as you have decided.” As you read the scripture below, grab a comfortable chair, find a cozy spot and submerge yourself into the story. A mighty and powerful angel coming to a young teenage girl. This power of light comes to interrupt this young woman’s story and her response, “Yes, Lord, Let it Be” challenges us to respond in the same fashion. Come Sunday expectant of what news God might have for us!

Luke 1:26–55

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Has God ever interrupted your plans with news of a different path for you to take? What was your reaction?

2. Often our response to unexpected news is “why?” Reflect on what might be a better response (i.e. “Lord, this is happening… how do you see this? What do you want me to learn? Who do you want to be for me at this moment in life? Yes, Lord, Let it Be.”

3. Are there people around you who are experiencing either exciting or difficult news, how can you be a support to them through their circumstances?