Mary

Snippet

To each of us, Christ comes as he came to Mary herself, wanting to stretch us spiritually,physically, emotionally, and socially, taking away everything, even all we might have thought good or godly of ourselves: our good names, our good futures, our innocence.

Mary certainly had reasons to say "No" to the invitation that came to her on angel's wings. She was facing an assuring future: a husband to wed, a home to create, a good reputation. Saying "Yes" to God and the words of the angel Gabriel was to put all of this on the line, everything she had and might have once clung to with good reason. Could you do the equivalent?

Could you release security, love, reputation, or even your youth from your own determined grasp? Mary's risk was no less difficult than the most sacrificial act you could imagine of your own life. Saying "Yes" to the Christ child and to the knocking of his love will surely bring down the houses we have built, even the rooms that house the things we hold onto most fiercely. Yet this is precisely his invitation: "⁶For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). He comes with the ann-unciation of great sacrifice and pregnant impossibilities, and he assures us not to be afraid. Where meek and foolish souls give everything to receive him, they still find themselves the wisest.

The Gifts of Magi Slice of Today Monday, Dec 20,2010 Jill Cartinia

Scripture

During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, "Greetings!

The Lord has blessed you and is with you." But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean. The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.

Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."

Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen since I am a virgin?"

The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.

Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months.

God can do anything!"

Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Luke 1:26-28 NCV

Song

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am

Oh Mary did you know?

Sentence Prayer

We hold before God:

Those whom life is very difficult;

Those who have difficult decisions to make, and

Who honestly do not know what is the right thing to do.

We hold before God:

Those who have difficult tasks to do and to face,

And who fear they may fail in them;

Those who have difficult temptations to face, and

Who know only too well that they may fail too

Them, if they try to meet them alone.

We hold before God:

Those who have difficult people to work with;

Those who have to suffer unjust treatment, unfair

Criticism, unappreciated work.

We hold before God:

Those who are sad because someone they loved has

Died;

And any who are disappointed in something for

Which they hoped very much.

William Barclay

Celtic Daily Prayer Pg 218