We are in the midst of Advent. A time of anticipation. A celebration knowing that Jesus will soon come.

Imagine how Mary must have felt when we she found out she was greatly favored by God. That she would carry the Son of God.

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call 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 his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.    Luke 1:29-38

May your word to me be fulfilled. Could you have said those words? Accept the future that Mary was about to step into?

Last week, my pastor had an evening for us to come together to read the Magnificat. It’s become a yearly tradition that we love; spending time with Mary’s beautiful response to the future.

In Luke 1:39-45, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with John the Baptist. He leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary announced that she would bear the Son of God. Because Mary was so moved by this, she gave praise.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55

This is the Magnificat. The prayer that Mary sang. She gave her all to the promise, even when her life was about to become more than she ever could have dreamed or prayed for. Her focus was on God the Father and how the coming of Jesus would change the world. I’m sure she was scared, but her praise and gratitude shone through in her words.

As we wait for Christmas, I pray that you will find time to be filled with that same anticipation. That we reflect on the coming of Jesus and His wonderful light.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!