2nd, 3rd or 4th Advent
Luke 1: 26-38
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| Fra Angelico |
During the sixth
month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth
to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the
maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The
Lord is with you.”
But she was confused at those words, and wondered what
kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,
Mary; for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son
and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most
High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David
your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “
And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I
have never known a man?”
And the angel answered and said to her,
“The Holy Spirit
will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
And for that reason the holy offspring shall be called
the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a
son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called
barren. For no word is spoken in the
worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”
And Mary said,
“Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “
And the angel departed from her.
2nd Advent
December 7, 2014
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| The Awakening, Thomas Gotch |
Luke 1: 26-38
Today we hear the story of
the pure soul of humanity. The angel announces that she will be over-lighted by
the power of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Love. This warm light, shining
into her soul, will define what will be born of her. What issues forth from her
will be the Son of God. This will come about because God’s Word, which is also
God’s Son, has the power to create earthly realities.
The virginal soul has its
legitimate earthly questions: how shall this come about? But the angel makes
clear that there is a higher order and purpose at work in this event. Even
barren souls can become fruitful. And so she submits herself to a higher ideal.
And she humbly says yes to the working of the Word of God within her.
Once again, at this time
of the year, the angel approaches our barren souls. For each of us has, deep in
our hearts, a pure and innocent core. Once again the angel speaks to all of us
God’s words of His approach, of His wish to enter us. Individually and
collectively we are called upon to be impregnated by God’s Spirit of Love. In
hope the angel awaits our response: May it be unto me according to Your Word.
