Sunday, December 16, 2012

Reconsider Advent

Read Luke 1:26-33

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.

Today marks the halfway point for the season of Advent – two weeks down, two to go.  So, do you feel like you are awaiting the arrival of the incarnate God or do you feel more like you are running out of fuel running from Christmas parties to the mall to the next holiday festivity?  Advent often is overshadowed by the general hectic nature of the season, and so today (and everyday throughout Advent), we invite you to pause, to read Scripture, to pray, and to wait for the coming of Christ.

This passage of Scripture, called the annunciation, is normally the beginning of the Christmas story.  The angel appears to the virgin and delivers some shocking news.  We, however, have already been waiting to hear this good news – to hear that the virgin would indeed bear a son, a son unlike any other son.  For some reason, maybe it’s my own personal bias, but I always imagine Mary completely frightened and somewhat reluctant to bear the Son of God, but the angel says “Greetings, favored one!”  Gabriel goes on to proclaim that Mary has found favor with God.  Such a strange blessing!

This blessing did not come with wealth and health and prosperity.  The blessing promised to Mary (who was favored by God) was an unexpected pregnancy, birth pains, child-rearing, and eventually, seeing the death of the son she carried.  It was a strange blessing indeed, that the angel proclaimed to Mary, but perhaps, as Mary is obedient and is favored, we ought to reconsider our blessings and our favor with God.  We ought to reconsider Advent even though we are halfway through.  Yes, we are awaiting the blessing of a baby and all that brings, but even more, we are awaiting the coming of the Son of the Most High.  We are awaiting salvation to enter the world – a strange blessing indeed that comes with obedience, suffering, death, and resurrection. 

Brandi Tevebaugh



Eternal and loving God, pour out in our hearts this day the light of your love, warming us to one another, enlightening our understanding of others, and revealing the path of charity upon which you have called us to walk. Amen.