Luke
1:26-56; 2; 4:16-30; 8:19-21
The
Annunciation of Mary
The promise
had been given; the Savior would be born from David’s family. Yet it had been a
thousand years since David, and there were thousands of families of David’s
descendants. Yet one of David’s descendants had been chosen to be the one
through whom God’s Son would enter the world. Passed up were the ruling
families in Jerusalem. Instead, a humble woman, from a lowly home in an obscure
village is the district of Galilee was chosen to be the mother of God. Her
name, of course, was Mary.
Many within
the story of redemption are filled with fear and doubt. Mary is a rare
exception. She does not doubt. Her only question is when this will take place.
She leaves all into the hands of God and trust the message that nothing is
impossible with God. Here is an example of a great and daring faith. She does
not question, she does not doubt, she is not apprehensive. She knows she is the
Lord’s vessel and is content to be used by Him. Faith calls for us to be of a
similar mind. Faith trusts the promises of God confidently. Faith clings to God’s
guarantees as they are spoken. To trust means nothing more than to take God
seriously, to take Him at His Word, to trust His word boldly.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that,
believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your
Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally
come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS
Halley’s
Bible Handbook An Abbreviated Bible Commentary Twenty-Third Edition, © 1962
Zondervan Grand Rapids
Collect for a steadfast
faith, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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