This Fourth Sunday of Advent, we take a moment to contemplate a significant instance of divine intervention. We turn our attention to Mary, a young woman from Nazareth, who played a pivotal role in God's salvation plan. Her narrative, as depicted in Luke 1:26-38, Embracing the Promise: The Annunciation of Mary, offers valuable lessons in faith, trust, and the acceptance of unforeseen events. The story of Mary's meeting with the Angel Gabriel provides deep understanding into how we can welcome the unexpected in our own faith journey.
Let us revisit the text:
Lord, just as You chose Mary for an extraordinary purpose, help us to be mindful of the ways You are working in our own lives. In the midst of our routines, our plans, and our expectations, grant us the grace to recognize and embrace Your unexpected callings. May we, like Mary, respond with faith and trust, even when Your plans surpass our understanding.
As we reflect on Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel, fill us with awe at the mystery of the Incarnation. Remind us of Your constant presence and Your unending favor towards us. Guide us to be open to Your Spirit, allowing it to work powerfully within us, transforming our doubts into faith and our fears into hope.
In this time of worship and contemplation, open our ears to hear Your word, our eyes to see Your work, and our hearts to receive Your truth. May the story of Mary inspire us to walk in obedience, to serve with humility, and to praise with joy.
We ask for Your blessing upon this service, that it may glorify Your name and edify Your people. Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to receive the message of Your love and grace, as we await the celebration of the birth of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In His precious name, we pray. Amen.
Let us revisit the text:
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged 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.”Heavenly Father, on this blessed Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we gather in Your holy presence, we turn our hearts and minds to the story of Mary, a testament of faith and surrender to Your divine will. In the quiet anticipation of this Advent season, we seek to understand the depth of her journey, as narrated in Your word.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting 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)
Lord, just as You chose Mary for an extraordinary purpose, help us to be mindful of the ways You are working in our own lives. In the midst of our routines, our plans, and our expectations, grant us the grace to recognize and embrace Your unexpected callings. May we, like Mary, respond with faith and trust, even when Your plans surpass our understanding.
As we reflect on Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel, fill us with awe at the mystery of the Incarnation. Remind us of Your constant presence and Your unending favor towards us. Guide us to be open to Your Spirit, allowing it to work powerfully within us, transforming our doubts into faith and our fears into hope.
In this time of worship and contemplation, open our ears to hear Your word, our eyes to see Your work, and our hearts to receive Your truth. May the story of Mary inspire us to walk in obedience, to serve with humility, and to praise with joy.
We ask for Your blessing upon this service, that it may glorify Your name and edify Your people. Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to receive the message of Your love and grace, as we await the celebration of the birth of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In His precious name, we pray. Amen.
“Embracing the Unexpected:
Mary's Journey of Faith”
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Introduction:
In Nazareth's quietude, on what seemed like an ordinary day, a young woman, Mary, unexpectedly became the focal point of a divine plan beyond imagination. As we immerse ourselves in the narrative of Luke 1:26-38, we join Mary on her journey, learning how her story of steadfast faith, profound humility, and unwavering obedience sheds light on our own response to God’s unforeseen callings in our seemingly mundane lives.
In the humble environs of Nazareth, Mary's encounter with the divine disrupts her routine life. The angel Gabriel visits her, extending a greeting that interweaves honor with profound mystery: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” In her typical life as a betrothed young woman, preparing for marriage and living a life marked by simplicity and devoutness, this encounter stands as a testament to how God frequently selects the ordinary as a vessel for His extraordinary designs.
The words of the angel evoke in Mary a blend of trepidation and wonder. The message is as magnificent as it is daunting: she is chosen to bear a son, Jesus, destined for greatness, to be known as the Son of the Most High. This pivotal moment marks not just a personal calling but the inauguration of a new epoch, where God intertwines with human history, revealing His plan for human redemption. For us, as for Mary, the grandeur of God's plans may be overwhelming, yet they are invariably imbued with His divine intent.
Mary’s question, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” arises not from doubt but from a desire to comprehend the unfathomable nature of God's workings. Her question, a blend of curiosity and faith, prompts Gabriel to reveal the might of the Holy Spirit and the principle that nothing is beyond God's capability. This exchange between Mary and the angel underscores that questions and seeking understanding are natural and vital parts of our faith journey, drawing us closer to the realization of God's omnipotence and promises.
Ultimately, Mary’s affirmation, “I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled,” resonates as a profound declaration of her faith, trust, and readiness to align with God's will. Despite the uncertainties she faced and the possible societal repercussions, her decision to embrace God’s plan with humility and conviction reflects her deep faith. Mary’s response becomes a mirror for us, challenging how we accept God's call, particularly when it disrupts our own plans and expectations.
Conclusion:
Reflecting on Mary's journey during this Advent season invites us to examine how we respond to the unforeseen ways in which God moves in our lives. Mary's transition from an everyday existence to a crucial part in the story of salvation enlightens us about welcoming the unforeseen with faith and conviction. As we anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth, let us open our hearts to the possibility of God's plans, no matter how unexpected they may appear. May we emulate Mary in our willingness to accept the mysteries of God, in our readiness to obey His call, and in our joyous embrace of His divine will.
Prayer:
Let us bow our heads in prayer.
Gracious and Loving God, as we conclude our time together on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we are deeply moved by the story of Mary, a young woman who embraced Your unexpected calling with faith and courage. Inspired by her journey, we come before You with hearts open to the work of Your Spirit.
Lord, in a world where uncertainty often surrounds us, grant us the grace to trust You as Mary did. When You call us to paths unknown, give us the strength to say, “May it be to me as You have said.” Help us to remember that, like Mary, we are part of Your divine plan, a plan that brings hope, peace, and salvation to the world.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ, fill our hearts with the joy and wonder that Mary must have felt. Teach us to treasure and ponder Your promises in our hearts, as she did. May the story of the first Advent remind us of Your constant presence and unfailing love.
We pray for those among us who are facing unexpected challenges and changes in their lives. Comfort them, O Lord, and provide them with the assurance that nothing is impossible with You. May they find peace and strength in Your loving embrace.
As we depart from this place, let the light of Your love shine through us. May our lives be a testament to Your grace, as we seek to follow You with obedience and faith. Guide our steps in the week ahead, and help us to be bearers of Your hope and love in a world that so desperately needs it.
We ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, who taught us to pray…
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
Mary Did You Know
Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Gospel message by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
As we light the fourth candle on this Sunday of Advent, we are invited to pause and ponder the profound story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her experience, as narrated in Luke 1:26-38, offers us a window into the heart of faith, obedience, and embracing the unexpected in God’s plan.
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