Stations of the Nativity 1. Annunciation – Luke 1:26-37

To listen to this in audio format please click here, otherwise you may like to simply read it to yourself below:

https://anchor.fm/bcjj/embed/episodes/Stations-of-the-Nativity-1-The-Annunciation-enpgii

Annunciation – El Greco

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 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. 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. For nothing will be impossible with God.’

We have all faced 2020 with much fear and despair. Mary could have responded to Gabriel’s message differently – but she trusted God’s promise to her to be with her. Hear the words of the angel to her – ‘do not be afraid’ – this message is repeated throughout the bible, probably so many times because we do not let the message sink in.