“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was
spoken to her from the Lord.” – Luke 1:45
spoken to her from the Lord.” – Luke 1:45
Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary was a spontaneous expression of bursting joy and gratitude, for in her young cousin she saw the handiwork of God, and on her face she saw the unmistakable signs of trusting faith. Mary was God‘s favored one, a chosen instrument for his work of salvation. But Mary was also hardly more than a girl; one of countless Jewish girls whose simple lives were lived in the homes and villages of Palestine. Nothing unique. Nothing profound. Really quite ordinary. Just the short of “earthen vessel” through which God often works out his most astonishing miracles.
Among the other wonders of Christmas, we remember that God does not bypass even the weakness of human
frailty in order to work out his purposes. In fact, the message of the Incarnation is that it is often precisely through
finite and fragile human nature that God reveals the splendor of his eternal being. Christmas is a day to rejoice,
for no person is despised by God, no person is useless in his hands; no person is too sinful and flawed to be the
“blessed of God.”
frailty in order to work out his purposes. In fact, the message of the Incarnation is that it is often precisely through
finite and fragile human nature that God reveals the splendor of his eternal being. Christmas is a day to rejoice,
for no person is despised by God, no person is useless in his hands; no person is too sinful and flawed to be the
“blessed of God.”
Only one thing was required of Mary in order that she might bear the Son of God. Faith – the gift of faith in the
love and power of God. No Super-human strength was necessary and no extraordinary level of belief. The angel
Gabriel was sent to one who, in answer to God’s call, would believe and utter a simple “Fiat” (“Let it be”). This
Christmas let us greet with our own burst of joy and gratitude the God who came directly into our midst to save
us, and may our hearts be lifted by the remembrance that he used one just like us in order to do so. How “blessed
of God” we are.
love and power of God. No Super-human strength was necessary and no extraordinary level of belief. The angel
Gabriel was sent to one who, in answer to God’s call, would believe and utter a simple “Fiat” (“Let it be”). This
Christmas let us greet with our own burst of joy and gratitude the God who came directly into our midst to save
us, and may our hearts be lifted by the remembrance that he used one just like us in order to do so. How “blessed
of God” we are.
Why lies he in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here, The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through, The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the son of Mary!
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here, The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through, The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the son of Mary!
In His Peace,
Pastor Schultz
Pastor Schultz