Monday, December 18, 2000
Monday, December 18, 2000
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
When Mary saw the angel, Luke tells us, "she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be." That's not surprising. In the Bible, we have plenty of
examples of angels revealing themselves to people. Usually the angels' first words are something
like this: "Don't be afraid! God is with you." Fear would be a totally natural, human response to
seeing a supernatural being, don't you think? But the angel's first words to Mary are not, "Don't
be afraid!" Instead, the angel opens with, "Rejoice! blessed art thou among women."
We are blessed when God is with us!
(Luke
1:42
NRSV)
Most scholars believe that Mary was probably only fifteen-years-old or so, when the angel of the
Lord appeared to her. Mary was betrothed to Joseph. A betrothal was much more than a
engagement. It indicated a contract between families for a future marriage. The bride and groom
often didn't have much say in the matter. The betrothal might be sealed by the exchange of lavish
gifts or a feast. All the family was involved. It was almost unheard of to break off a betrothal,
except in the case of some great humiliation.
Dear Jesus, fill my heart more fully with you today as I rejoice in my blessings. Amen.
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