Luke 1:16-38 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:16-38 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. Verse 17With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Verse 18Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." Verse 19The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. Verse 20But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur." Verse 21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. Verse 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. Verse 23When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. Verse 24After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, Verse 25"This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."
Verse 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, Verse 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Verse 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." Verse 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Verse 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Verse 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. Verse 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. Verse 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Verse 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" Verse 35The angel said to her, "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 Son of God. Verse 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. Verse 37For nothing will be impossible with God." Verse 38Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Devotion
I was 17 and a junior in high school. So when my parents said they needed to talk with me, I wondered what I had done. Usually that invitation was bad news. This time the news would really change my life. “I’m going to have a baby,” my mother said. As an only child, I had long wanted and waited for a brother or sister. But one year away from college, I had given up on that hope. I was so shocked by the news that I had the first vision of my life—a crib and a dangling mobile—as my mother spoke. Unexpected and mysterious are the ways of God. Imagine Mary, moved to song by the announcement of the angel. Who could have imagined what new life God would give? Mary magnifies the Lord.
Prayer
Our Lord, you continue to amaze and surprise us with new life. Let our lives, like Mary’s, bear your living Word, Christ our Lord. Amen.