Luke 1:26-38 The Annunciation
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "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 called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
This is an amazing passage. First it has an angel in it. Second, a young woman, probably very young in fact, has an unbelievable future foretold to her by this angel. How does she respond? The fact that she doesn’t keel over is a testimonial to her upbringing and her character. She is not really afraid, just confused, and when the angel clears up the confusion she says “yes, let it be done to me as you say. I am the servant of the Lord.” Her life of work and prayer to date has prepared her for this moment, for obedience to the future God has ordained for her. Because Mary was so grounded in prayer/service/obedience, she was prepared - even when confronted with an unbelievable situation - to Trust in God.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Luke 1:5 – 25 The Birth of John
Luke 1:5 – 25 The Birth of John
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."
John is truly an unexpected child, born long after his parents had given up hope of ever having a child and in spite of all the odds. And what a future is foretold for him: many will rejoice at his birth, he will be great in the eyes of the lord, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, he will bring many back to the Lord. Unfortunately, the person to whom this fabulous future is foretold is his Father, Zechariah, whom the angel renders incapable of speech because of his unbelief. This child will be a blessing and a joy, a true gift from God for all humanity but nobody knows this at the time.
A child is not always seen as a joy, a gift. Why is this so? What prevents that from being the case? Poverty, bad relationships, abuse, uncaring, desperation, bad timing? If parents saw their children - born and unborn - as true gifts from God, surrendered to that and raised them with love, attention, firmness and patience – then who knows what brilliant future the Lord has planned for them. Lord, help me to be open to your possibilities, to surrender to your unexpected gifts, no matter how unlikely and maybe even (right now) unwanted. Amen.
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."
John is truly an unexpected child, born long after his parents had given up hope of ever having a child and in spite of all the odds. And what a future is foretold for him: many will rejoice at his birth, he will be great in the eyes of the lord, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, he will bring many back to the Lord. Unfortunately, the person to whom this fabulous future is foretold is his Father, Zechariah, whom the angel renders incapable of speech because of his unbelief. This child will be a blessing and a joy, a true gift from God for all humanity but nobody knows this at the time.
A child is not always seen as a joy, a gift. Why is this so? What prevents that from being the case? Poverty, bad relationships, abuse, uncaring, desperation, bad timing? If parents saw their children - born and unborn - as true gifts from God, surrendered to that and raised them with love, attention, firmness and patience – then who knows what brilliant future the Lord has planned for them. Lord, help me to be open to your possibilities, to surrender to your unexpected gifts, no matter how unlikely and maybe even (right now) unwanted. Amen.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Luke 1:1 -4 Foretold and Fulfilled
Luke 1:1 -4 Foretold and Fulfilled
“Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.”
Luke begins his gospel by telling us that the long awaited events that he relates are now fulfilled. They are transmitted to us by eyewitnesses and ministers of the word – those whose words can be trusted. Why? My guess is that it is to bring us closer to God - hence the title of this blog – (which comes from James 4:8). Saint James tells us, “Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.” This is my quest and my journey – and I begin in the Gospel of Luke. Welcome! and feel free to join in with your own thoughts as you read these scriptures.
“Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.”
Luke begins his gospel by telling us that the long awaited events that he relates are now fulfilled. They are transmitted to us by eyewitnesses and ministers of the word – those whose words can be trusted. Why? My guess is that it is to bring us closer to God - hence the title of this blog – (which comes from James 4:8). Saint James tells us, “Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.” This is my quest and my journey – and I begin in the Gospel of Luke. Welcome! and feel free to join in with your own thoughts as you read these scriptures.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Getting Started
Hello, and welcome! This Blog is something that I have wanted to do for a while. I love reading scripture and find writing in a journal about what I read to be revealing and thought provoking. Both comforting and energizing at the same time, if that makes any sense. I hope you will read the scriptures along with me and keep your own journal of what God is trying to tell you in each passage. Feel free to pipe in with your thoughts on the scripture, which may be completely different from my thoughts. Such is the wonder and gift of Lectio Divina. I and all who join in will be enriched by them.
My plan right now is to make entries on this Blog three times a week – Monday, Wednesdays and Saturdays. We’ll see how it goes. I’m glad you’re here. Paula
My plan right now is to make entries on this Blog three times a week – Monday, Wednesdays and Saturdays. We’ll see how it goes. I’m glad you’re here. Paula
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