Advent calendar 2020

Advent 6 - Friday 4th December 2020

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Probably one of the most incredible verses in the Bible.

There are undoubtedly more reasons why this is an incredible statement than we can all think of.

Most importantly this response from the mother of Jesus shows us how much godliness and obedience there was in her character. Mary is prepared to put all her doubts, fears, expectations and plans aside, and to say yes to God. She knew that the pregnancy would bring her disgrace; She knew that Joseph would not believe her story and think that she had been with another man. Joseph had to power to have her put to death. She knew also that this might mean she would remain unmarried and cast out of society.

Could it possibly get much worse than that for a woman in those days? A single, disgraced, isolated, rejected young woman with a story that no one would in their right mind was going to believe because that was what happened to such young women in those times and society. Yet this young woman was prepared to put God’s plans before her own. She definitely put God first, she demonstrated a deep dependency and trust in God and her obedience reveals a heart that is totally submitted to Him.

She had no idea what the significance of saying yes was but she still lived it out despite all the unforeseen hardships along the way. Thankfully for her the angel Gabriel convinced Joseph of the story as well, but she still ended up having to travel many miles on the back of a donkey to Bethlehem while heavily pregnant, give birth to the baby Jesus in a lowly cattle shed then flee to Egypt when Herod thought that his successor had been born and he decided in a fit of rage to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem.

Christmas this year is going to be different and strange for many of us because of the pandemic However through all that one thing is unchanging, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

So this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour are we prepared to refocus our lives and allow him to lead us into a new chapter in our lives as his humble servants?

Luke 1: 34–38

“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[a] 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.

Prayer

Lord Jesus during this time of advent when we are preparing ourselves to celebrate your birth, families are not going to be able meet as they wish, with many being left on their own, we pray that they feel the love and comfort, which only you can bring, being present in their lives. May we all come together through you and grow in our individual faith journeys and like Mary recognise that we too mare your servants.
Amen

Today’s Advent Reflection is by Mr Robert Esson, Session Clerk at Cruden Parish Church.

Other days in the Advent Calendar