The Angel’s visit
What’s happening in this scene?
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ 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 favour 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 for ever; his kingdom will never end.’
Luke’s Gospel chapter 1 verses 26-33
God had planned this even longer ago:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14
What does it mean today?
Mary was a young, poor, ordinary woman with no special qualifications other than that she was faithful to God. And God chose her, of all people, to change history and to carry out his great plan of love for the world. God loves everyone – even people who seem not to be very special – and can use them to change the world.
How can we respond?
One25 is a charity that supports vulnerable and marginalised women in Bristol – women whom others might think are far from special but women whom God loves and calls us to love too, and help change their lives for good.
