Advent Reading for Wednesday, Week 3 (Dec. 14, 2022)

 

The Season of Advent prepares us for Christ's coming--both on Christmas Day and when we comes again in glory.  This year, we will spend each week exploring a different way we can prepare ourselves.  The post for each day will include a scripture, a song, a few brief questions to reflect upon, and a prayer. 

 

Week 3 Reminder

The 3rd Sunday of Advent is often referred to as Gaudete Sunday (or Joy Sunday).  Gaudete is the Latin word for "rejoice."  From a theological perspective, to rejoice doesn't mean pretending to be happy. For a longer exploration of joy, refer back to the reading, for Sunday, Dec. 4.

Scripture

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

  ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”²⁹ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He 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. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ The 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. ³⁶ And 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. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

  ³⁸ Then 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. (NRSVUE)

 

Hymn

Questions

The message Gabriel shared with Mary was joyful...but it was also confusing, surprising, and probably a little bit terrifying.

• If you were Mary, how would you have joyfully accepted God’s plans for you, or would you have tried to reject them?  Why?
  
• When have you been surprised by God's plans for you?  How did you react?
• An angel might not have come to you with an announcement, but what role is God inviting you to take on as part of his plans for our salvation?
  

Prayer

God, help me joyfully accept the role you have given me in your plans.  Amen.