Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:26-38 on biblegateway.com
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
Now a young woman enters the house of David—a poor woman, an unlikely caller. "The Lord is with you," says an angel. A fearful thing for Mary to hear. "God is with me? But you can't look on the face of God and live," thinks Mary. I read it in the Bible. But fear not, Mary. This is the God of promise, and nothing is impossible with God—not only that you should look on the face of God, but that you should bear the son of God. There will be a new ruler on the throne of David, an impossible ruler—the son of an unmarried peasant girl. An impossible idea. But nothing is impossible with God. And Mary said, "I am your servant. Let it be with me according to your word."
Prayer
Lord, make us your servants. Let it be with us according to your word. In Jesus' name, Amen.