4th Advent 2007, Heart Prayer

4th Advent

Luke 1: 26-38

Bernhard Eyb

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 toward her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was 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.

4^th Advent Sunday

December 23, 2007

Luke 1.26-38

“No word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”[1]

Words from the realm of eternity carry with them the infinite living power to shape and form earthly realities. They continue to resound even into the present time.

The angel from the realms of spirit announces to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”[2] This Most High healing spirit draws near to humanity every year at this time. It is He whose very being and essence is Love. Mary is a representative of the pure

Mother Tender, Iris Sullivan

human soul. These eternally acting angelic words are announced to all purified human souls, to souls who have overcome selfish egotism and are ready to become vessels, bearers of the spirit and the Most High power. He draws near, hoping to find Mary-like souls into whom he can power the precious and strong essence of His being. He would fill us to overflowing with His love, so that we in turn can spill out His selfless love into the world. For “No word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

So, as the poet advises us:

Ask the Friend for love

Ask Him again,

For I have learned that every heart will get

What it prays for

Most.[3]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] Luke 1.37 from The New Testament, a Rendering, by Jon Madsen, p.141.

[2] Luke 1.35.

[3] Hafiz, “A Potted Plant”, in The Subject Tonight is Love, Daniel Ladinsky, p. 65.