Our scripture this morning is Luke 1:35-38.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God.” So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
This passage is known as The Annunciation, the announcement to Mary that she was chosen as the mother of Jesus. The angel said “the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God”. The promised Messiah was to be born in humble circumstances, entering a world in desperate need of hope.
Mary is unique in many ways from others chosen for special service. Some tried to decline God’s call, but Mary responds “I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word”. While she had questions, she never refused the duty for which she was called.
How do we respond to God’s invitation to service? Are we timid in our discipleship? While God needs no help from us, He wants us to be part of what He is doing in the world and in eternity. May we all answer His call as faithfully as Mary did.
Loving Lord, You made us in Your own image. Help us to remember that we are Yours, and called to share Your love with the world. Amen.
