Merry Christmas!
This day of festive trees, wonderful presents, and outstanding parties is the culmination of the Advent season. Where in this post pandemic world many of us for the first time in a while have attended parties, gone to concerts, enjoyed dinners along with all the activities with family and friends that truly makes this the most wonderful time of the year.
But, for many this time of year is stressful. Stressful with money problems, stressful with family issues, stressful with the loneliness that is so acute during the holidays.
When Gabriel the angel, of the Lord came to Mary, he gave her these specific messages. The first message was not to be scared she was a favored woman chosen by the Lord from among many. The second message was that Mary a woman who was not married and had never had a man was to have a Son. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat. He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.” The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.
The third and final message from Gabriel was concerning her cousin Elizabeth. An old woman who was baron. This woman without child was now six months with child.
After hearing these incredible, impossible, and improvable things Mary asked how can it be? Then after hearing Gabriel explain about the power of God. Mary had her own message: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
With these powerful messages Mary could have done many things. She could have used the knowledge to advance her own agenda based on her favored status. She could have used her knowledge to further question God about the how’s, whys, and whatnots of her current situation. She could have used the knowledge to run away and never come back.
But instead, she used her knowledge to reach out to a friend in need. While Elizabeth was clearly elated about finally being with child, she was also in crisis.
Elizabeth was old, and let’s face it a child at any age is demanding. Elizabeth was fearful of the reaction from folks about pregnancy. And Elizabeth was perplexed about the entire thing after all her husband was rendered speechless after his stent in the temple.
Luke 1:39 tells us that Mary with haste left to be with Elizabeth. Her joyous visit lifted the spirits of both women. Their bounds became tighter as they spent three mounts together.
Just before Gabriel left Mary she said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord.” On this Christmas Day many of us are happy, family, loved ones and presents are in abundance. However, we know that there are people who like Elizabeth are in crisis. I pray that you be like Mary and let the Lord use you. Call, visit or sent a love message to someone who is lonely, someone who is in difficulty, someone who is in a crisis.
Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season and as Mary has shown us Christmas is all about relationships.
Merry Christmas!
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