Greetings Favored One

Fall drifts into the sleep of winter, seasonal life retreats into unseen places, and the dormancy appears lifeless. Still, things are happening, life is present, waiting to burst forth again. It seems fitting to me that this is the season assigned to the waiting of Advent, the anticipation of celebrating God’s activity in the world. I love reading again the story of Mary and Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38.

She sat quietly. Or maybe she was experiencing the mundane of busy work, not noticing life germinating underground. Suddenly she is surprised by the words, Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you. Of course she’s caught off guard! Perplexed. She was going about routines, practicing a faith tradition but not considering or really believing it was about her. The word that comes from Gabriel is unbelievable. But she questions. She listens. And amid any doubt that it is possible for life to spring from dormant places she risks believing, let it be with me according to your word. 

I often wonder how many young women Gabriel approached before one believed the Lord was with her, making life possible? Before his ask. Before her response. Before any evidence that she believed anything at all, the Lord was already present waiting to be born into the world.

This life, the Eternal Light that enlightens everyone (John 1:9), is lying in the depths of winter waiting to be believed. Waiting to sprout from dormant souls.

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him…wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-2)

This shoot of Life enters the world by Mary’s “yes.” Like the creation story bearing the revelation of God’s loving creativity, Mary is the archetype of the possibility available to us all. To believe God is with us. And to be Christ-bearers, bearers of Life and Light. We can all water the seeds of righteousness, till the soil of justice, nurture growth of wisdom and understanding. How can this be? 

Because first, the Lord IS with you…in the unbelieving, the doubt, the dormancy before any growth appears. What possibilities will I say yes to this season?

in this together…