Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, December 23, 2012 Read – Luke 1:26-56 Our Bible readings move now to the Gospel of Luke. I’ll say more by way of introduction to Luke in a few days but it is important in our Advent preparation that we jump ahead just a bit in Luke’s story to hear the announcement to Mary of the coming birth of Jesus. The first thing we need to notice is that in his telling of the story, Luke reaches back to a story that should be at least a bit familiar to us – the story of the birth of Samuel. That story, in the first chapters of the book of 1 Samuel, form a template upon which Luke tells his story of the birth of both John the Baptist and of Jesus. Luke wants us to be thinking about that Old Testament story. In today’s reading we hear of the coming of the angel Gabriel to Mary. Mary is a young woman who is engaged to Joseph. We need to remember that in those days marriages were arranged by a woman’s father. That arrangement usually took place when a woman was quite young so Mary was likely a teenager. Can you imagine such a woman being encountered by an angel? As we have listened to the Old Testament story and as we contemplate the story of the birth of Samuel we remember that several Old Testament women were barren. That is not Mary’s problem – but the pattern is worth thinking about. God’s word to Mary is that she has been chosen to be the mother of one who will be called the Son of God. This child will not be the product of the union of a man and a woman but will the result of the Holy Spirit’s action. The child within her will bear her humanity and yet will bear the very reality of God. It is no wonder that Mary asks how this can be. Her question is really an understatement! The wonder is in Mary’s response – “Let it be as you have said!” Mary is a model of faith for us to follow. Mary’s song matches the song of Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel. God is up to something in the birth of this child. And for those who are powerful and well off the message is as least somewhat threatening. The coming of this child will mean the coming of God’s reign – not the reign of the high and mighty of this world. Isn’t it somewhat strange that our world entices us to seek for power and wealth? We are now two days from celebrating Christmas. We can hardly wait. In fact, many of us will experience tomorrow as Christmas even though it remains technically a day in advance. That’s okay – celebrating this grand day needs more than one day to experience. So, may Christmas Eve be both a day of anticipation and a day of celebration for you.